We don't have a lot of 'big' or 'recognizable' countries left, but Spain had been hanging out there for awhile. It was perfect for explorers week, you know, Spanish Conquistadors and all that!
Our Conquistador was Hernan Cortes, aka Hernando Cortez. I remembering doing a report on the guy when I was in fifth or sixth grade. (I know it was for Ms. Holcomb, but I had her for social studies two years in a row, so I don't exactly remember!) However, all the books and encyclopedias (yes, that's how I had to get information in 5th grade even though I was born in the 80s), failed to mention him breaking his leg jumping out of a married woman's window, or massacring thousands of nobility after penning them into the town square, or dying a bitter old man because he never felt he got the recognition that he felt he deserved. Those things, among others, probably isn't something that gets taught all that often in Catholic school though.
These days all explorers tend to get a real villain edit, but it hasn't always been that way. The hero side of Cortez is that he settled Mexico City for the Spanish, explored the Baja peninsula and made Mexico into what it is today, religion, culture and all.
The villain edit, however, is the fact that he was a fugitive, going to Central America despite orders, where he stamped out the Aztec culture by controlling Montezuma murdering anyone he didn't like, taking whatever he wanted, and forcing people into Christianity for fear of death.
I mean, there's a lot more to it. But, you get the idea, and I get another section of blog done.
The boys made their Cortes Facebook pages.
And then we moved on to Spain. But, this was also a quick one, because we did a whole lesson on Spain just over a year ago when they were my country for the Rio Olympics.
Our landmark was the running of the bulls, held every year in Pamplona, July 6th thru the 14th. I mean, everyone knows about the running of the bulls, but I wasn't aware that it only became famous after Ernest Hemingway noted the annual festival in 'The Sun Also Rises'. (But maybe that's just me, I am not strong on my literature knowledge).
Spain is considered an exotic country of sorts in Europe due to the friendly people, relaxed lifestyle, yummy cuisine, abundant nightlife, and world-famous festivals. From the thriving capital of Madrid to the coastal city of Barcelona, Spain has a lot to offer.
We covered the 'fiesta' and 'siesta' lifestyle. From parties to naps, we talked flamenco dancing, tomato food fights, Picasso and human pyramids.
And I'm going to go ahead and move on, because it's Spain, you guys know Spain.
We made our postcards. On the front the boys did their Spain postcards, on the back they made Aztec suns.
Calib made the human pyramid and featured both the beaches and countryside.
Peyton had the running of the bulls featured on his, along with a tomato fight.
Hayden's featured various buildings with people taking siestas.
I bought Asa a paella pan forever ago, so he was happy to use it for a Spanish Paella.
We also had jarred Spanish pears (thanks Trader Joes), and for dessert Easy Sopapilla Cheesecake.
The meal earned five very enthusiastic spoons up. For real, make all of this- but ESPECIALLY the Sopapilla, you'll thank me.
We've been talking about if we're done by the Olympics, having some of our favorites during the Olympics, and this one would make it in for sure.
Hayden picked an orange color for Spain and did a nice job of coloring it in.
That's 151 countries down, 45 to go!
Next Up: Chile
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