Ode to the artichoke! Praise to the artichoke! Kudos to the artichoke! Who knew someone could dedicate an entire poem in Spanish to the humble artichoke? Seventh graders were surprised and impressed to hear how much Pablo Neruda had to say about a seemingly ordinary vegetable. Students began to contemplate the artichoke more deeply as they drew one in detail and selected three adjectives to describe the artichoke they drew. From that, we were able to practice the new, descriptive vocabulary in a chain-like round of memory, each word with a gesture to accompany it. Our chain of adjectives and gestures grew to sixteen words/phrases about the artichoke; our own little artichoke dance if you will! We also practiced the art of translation and created dramatizations of various scenes to help us become one with the artichoke. All and all, this mini-unit served as a great bridge into our food unit in Peru.