picaflor . hummingbird

Picaflor, picaflor

Dime, ¿cuál es tu color?

Lila, rojo, verde, carmesí,

Dime, ¿cuál te gusta a ti?

This rhyme can be turned into an interactive circle time activity with one or more children. It is a fun way to review names for colors in Spanish and practice how to express likes (me gusta).

1) Download, print and cut out the handdrawn picaflor paper puppet. I recommend using white cardstock paper.

2) Show children the picaflor (hummingbird) puppet and tell them that the picaflor needs flores (flowers) to drink nectar. Go on a short nature walk together to pick flowers of different colors (from yard, garden, meadow, etc.). Talk about the colors you see as you pick (rojo, azul, morado, amarillo, anaranjado,,,)!

3) Gather back together and have everyone place their flowers on the table. You can group them by color first, calling out the colors as you organize them or, if you only have a few colors, place them in a vase in the center of your circle.

4) Say the rhyme that asks the hummingbird which color she likes best. If your children do not speak/understand Spanish, you can say the rhyme once in English (see below), followed by the Spanish version in all subsequent recitations. Here is a recording of the rhyme made by friend Dominique, a singer and songwriter from Argentina.

5) Model how to respond to the question posed by the rhyme, answering for the hummingbird (¡Me gusta rojo!). Again, you can do this in English first (I like red!).

As you say the rhyme, hover the hummingbird over the flores until the picaflor chooses the flor it likes best and let it take a sip!

Picaflor, picaflor (Hummingbird, hummingbird)

Dime, ¿cuál es tu color? (Tell me, which is your color?)

Lila, rojo, verde, carmesí, (Lilac, red, green, crimson red)

Dime, ¿cuál te gusta a ti? (Tell me, which do you like?)

¡Me gusta rojo! (I like red!)

6) Now pass the picaflor to the next child and say the rhyme again, letting the child maneuver the picaflor and share their favorite color: “Me gusta _____” (you can say the rhyme each time, inviting the children to join along with you as they are able). Stay flexible and keep it fun! Your child may say “I like azul” or “Me gusta blue.” Either response is acceptable and evidence of comprehension; a wonderful first step toward saying complete sentences in their second language!