One thing I’ve realized over the years is how powerful it is to teach things that are actually happening.
I love bringing real-world events into my classroom because students are already familiar with them. They’ve heard about them, seen them somewhere, or at least recognize the topic. And because of that, the connection is immediate.
I don’t have to convince them to care, because theey already do.
What I’ve learned, though, is that the key isn’t the topic, it’s how I present it.
I don’t need to use complex language or explain everything in detail. I just need to take that real-world event and make it accessible. That means simplifying the vocabulary, focusing on a few high-frequency structures, and supporting everything with visuals.
When students can understand what’s happening, they start making connections, they react, they are engage and most importantly, they feel successful.
I saw this so clearly when I taught about Bad Bunny. My students were all in. They recognized him, they were excited, and even my most reluctant learners wanted to participate. Because they understood the context, the language didn’t feel overwhelming, it felt meaningful.
That experience really stayed with me.
It reminded me that I don’t need to “entertain” students or come up with something completely new all the time. Sometimes, the most powerful thing I can do is take something they already know and make it comprehensible in Spanish.
That’s what inspired me to create a resource around Artemis II, because it’s real, it’s current and it’s something students can connect to.
My goal wasn’t to teach every detail about the mission. It was to introduce it in a way that students could actually understand, using simple language, visuals, and repetition.
When I introduced it, I didn’t just give them a reading, I also showed them short, viral videos of things happening in space. One of their favorites was watching Nutella floating inside the spaceship. They were fascinated.
They know Nutella. They love Nutella.
So suddenly, space didn’t feel far away anymore, it felt familiar.
I also shared an audio message from an astronaut saying “I love you” to his wife from space. And right away, my students connected it to something they already say and hear all the time: “I love you to the moon and back.”
That moment was powerful.
Because they weren’t just understanding the language…
they were connecting ideas.
My goal wasn’t to teach every detail about the mission. It was to introduce it in a way that students could actually understand, using simple language, visuals, and repetition.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how much information we give them. It’s about how much they understand.
And when they understand something that feels real and relevant…
that’s when learning becomes meaningful. You can use this coloring sheet in your class, I am thinking instead of drawing a face, you actually print a picture of your students to make it even better!
I hope this inspires you to start sharing these real-life events, they can be so powerful in our classrooms.
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