Hola, Buenos Días,
As part of the annual European Day of Languages, and the launch of Spanish as our new modern foreign language that we will now be studying, Perry Hall spent the day learning about some of the history and traditions of Spain and Spanish people.
We were treated to an introduction to flamenco dancing, which was led by Ana, a professional flamenco dancer and Mrynn on guitar. We discussed the Indian and Romani Gypsy influences on Flamenco dancing and the children enjoyed using their bodies as a percussion instrument.
Later, we participated in our own Flamenco dance sessions, taught by Ana. We started with a simple rhythmic stamping our feet, which then gradually progressed into a more complicated routine, adding tempo to their movements and a range of dance moves.
Later in the day, there was an abundance of Spanish related activities taking place across the school.
In Key Stage 1, Year 1 learnt some well-known nursery rhymes in Spanish, while Year 2 learnt and performed the Los Lobos classic, La Bamba.
Meanwhile, in Key Stage 2., Year 3 looked at the artistic work of Pablo Picasso’s abstract paintings and the materials he used. The children then designed their own abstract images of themselves and used oil pastels to bring their artwork to life. In Year 4, the children investigated traditional Spanish musical instruments and crafted their very own maracas, while in Year 5, the children researched the tradition of La Tomatina. LA Tomatina began in the 1940s, when during a parade, a tomato throwing fight broke out. Since then, it has become an annual event, attracting people from all over the globe. They then designed some posters, to attract visitors to the Valencian town of Buñol, to entice them to take part in the tradition. In Year 6, they spent the afternoon debating on the ethics of bullfighting in Spain. We looked at the benefits to the Spanish tourist economy, as well as the impact of the sport on both the bull and the matador. Each side expressed their viewpoint with clarity and confidence.
Overall, the children and staff had a fantastic day learning about the origins of Flamenco, improving their co-ordination through dance, and being given an insight into the variety of Spanish traditions.