Carolyn McCarthy, of Riverside, CA, likes to tantalize her students and encourage them to predict, prior to introducing a new episode. For example, before episode 9 (Policia Papa arresta a Sergio Cebolla) she hangs a pair of handcuffs in front of the room!
Carolyn also had her students write condolence cards to Tomás' parents after his death in episode 7.
Bev Dandurand, of Boulder, NV, suggests making a black felt "pillowcase" and slipping a piece of heavy cardboard inside, such as from a science fair display, as an alternative to making a heavier felt board using plywood. That way, the board is two-sided and you can leave the bus up on one side for review.
Bev also points out that in episode 16, the bolsas con drogas could be hidden in the handlebars of the bike instead of a cardboard tube representing part of the bike frame.
Finally, Bev had fun thinking up what she calls "alliterative anthropomorphisms," such as Don Camote and Sancho Banana de la Manzana. Her class decided that Antonio's basketball team is called los Palos Altos.
Along similar lines, Jon Amsden of Los Angeles wonders if don Ramon Cebolla was famous for being the hero of la sangrienta batalla de El Gazpacho. I think he must have been!
Marilyn Dryden, of Flagstaff, AZ, made up her own adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and incorporated it into the Cuentos by explaining that Teresa had a babysitting job and this was the story she told to the children.
Leonard Zamor, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, had his students write a horoscope with a different prediction for each type of vegetable based on that vegetable's "personality." Sounds like a good assignment for adjectives, or future tense!
Sue Thompson of San Jose, CA, wrote to suggest including a "who's who in Ensalada" page in the book. Excellent idea! It is in the new edition published by Teacher's Discovery. It's also available online at http://www.jps.net/nerissa/campbell/cast.htm for those who have the self-published edition (with the teal cover).
One of my students, Stephanie Starkey, wrote a ghost story in which Felipe and Teresa, some time after Tomás' death, spend a weekend at Teresa's father's mountain cabin, and the jealous ghost of Tomás shows up!
Using a crossword puzzle program, I've made up crossword puzzles using vocabulary from a few of the episodes. If you want them, let me know and I'll mail them to you.
Just for fun. Someone who shall remain anonymous provided me with this photo with the suggestion that it be titled "The Viagra Tomato." Check it out if you dare.
Send me your input! Check out the Call for Submissions to get some ideas. Here's my e-mail address: scampbell@eee.org