Hi Reader,

There’s a certain kind of magic in Havana... the kind that catches your eye in its colorful streets and stays in your heart long after you’ve left. This week, my students and I “traveled” there through our imaginations and art supplies!

To bring Havana to life, we studied photos of the city’s famous pastel buildings and vintage cars. Then, using chalk pastels, each student created their own scene. They used bright colors such as yellows, ocean blues, coral pinks, and mint greens just like the ones that line Havana’s streets. We turned their artwork into a giant “zoomed-in” version of Havana on our classroom bulletin board and it became a celebration of color, creativity, and curiosity!

Spanish Mode: Activated!

At the start of our lesson, one of my students said, “Mrs. DePasquale! I’m activating my Spanish mode!” (He poked his side.) “BOOP! ¡Hola!” He then proceeded to speak only in Spanish for the rest of the lesson. There was a lot of “¡Sí!” 😂

While we learned about Havana’s beauty, we also talked gently about how Cuba has faced challenges, especially with resources and rebuilding. Yet through it all, Cubans are known for their resilience and creativity, finding ways to make life vibrant no matter what. It was a beautiful reminder that even when life isn’t easy, there’s always room for color, music, and hope.

Kid-Friendly Facts About Cuba

1. 🏝️ Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean!
2. 🚗 Havana is famous for its classic cars from the 1950s that still cruise the streets today.
3. 🎶 Music and dance fill the city - you can hear salsa and rumba almost anywhere you go.
4. 🍌 Plantains are a favorite food! They’re often fried into crunchy snacks called tostones.
5. 🐸 Cuba is home to the world’s smallest frog and bird!

Let Them Bring Cars to School

Havana’s famous vintage cars are still on the roads today largely because, after the Cuban Revolution and decades of U.S. trade restrictions, importing new cars and replacement parts became difficult, so families learned to maintain and repair the cars they already owned. Many of these treasured vehicles have been passed down through generations. Teaching children about these cars helps them understand how history, economics, and culture shape everyday life around the world.

To help teach my students about the Havana's vintage cars, I let them bring in a toy car from home. We put them up on display. I read them the book All the Way to Havana by Margarita Engle. It's a beautiful story about a car that has been passed down from generation to generation, and the family's resilience to keep it running.

As always, please let me know how I can help bring the world into your classroom. Next week, I'll be coming to you from Dublin, Ireland, after having just run the Dublin Marathon. ☘️

Have a wonderful week!

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