Date: 1994

Grade Level(s): 3, 4

Subject(s):

• Foreign Language/Spanish

Overview:

The students will be introduced to the Mexican culture, which incorporates a different language than the students present English language.

Goal:

The students will develop their language and literature skills and knowledge by engaging themselves within a realm of the Mexican culture.

Objective(s): The students will:

1. discuss the major language of Mexico
2. discover differences and similarities visually between Spanish/English cartoon on television.
3. write an analytic essay.
4. recognize the numbers 1-10 in Spanish.
5. recognize various words and phrases for both Spanish/English translations.
6. experience seeing and hearing Spanish text.
7. research significant stories, people, or groups that have impacted the Mexican culture.

Materials:

• resource books
• texts
• writing paper
• construction paper
• markers
• crayons
• glue
• scissors
• television
• videos
• trivia game
• bulletin board
• "Diego" by Jeanette winter
• "Mexico" by Eileen Latell Smith
• "A Trip to Mexico" by Terry Shannon.

Activities and Procedures:

1. Research texts and discuss in cooperative groups the language(s) used in Mexico.
2. Watch a Spanish cartoon as a class.
3. Write a comparative analytic essay depicting the knowledge or lack of gained through observing the Spanish cartoon through the eyes of an English student.
4. Listen, repeat aloud, and write the Spanish numbers 1-10.
5. Listen, repeat aloud, and write key phrases of English, such as: "My name is..., Happy Birthday, Hello, and Goodbye", into Spanish.
6. Read the book "Diego" by Jeanette Winter.
7. Research in groups, the importance of the Mayans, Aztecs, Juan Diego, and Emiliano Zapata.

Tying It All Together:

1. The students will also participate in a trivia game which matches up the correct written English numbers and phrases with the Spanish numbers and phrases.
2. As a class project, each individual will draw or illustrate the feeling that they would have if they were in Mexico. Then, all of the illustrations will be put together on a bulletin board to create a mural by using a collage technique. The students will be free to write their new Spanish words on their pictures if desired.
3. Each individual will choose either one of the significant Mexican stories, person, or groups to write an essay on their importance.