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Objective(s)
Students will research historical Spanish speaking individuals.
Students will write to be informed.
Students will research Mexican holidays.
National Standards
Foreign Language: understand and interpret written and spoken
language on a variety of topics.
Language Arts: read a wide range of print and nonprint texts
to build an understanding of cultures of the world to acquire
new information.
Technology: use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect
information from a variety of sources.
Summary
Students will research Spanish speaking individuals and the
holiday, The Day of the Dead, using Internet and print resources.
Students will orally present their research. Students will also
engage in Mexican traditions by making either a lapida (headstone)
or calaveras (skulls).
Technology and/or Materials Needed
- Computers with Internet access
- Cardboard, construction paper for lapida
- Confectioners sugar and egg whites for calavera
Implementation Time Frame
Approximately eight 45-minute class periods
Activities
Each student will choose a famous Spanish speaking individual,
not from the U.S. and no longer living, to complete an informative
report that will be presented orally. The individual may be a
politician, a musician, an artist, an actor, an orator, a sports
figure, a humanitarian, a religious leader, an astronomer, a
scientist, a physician, an inventor, or a conqueror.
The report will include:
- individual's complete name (not an Americanized version)
- date of birth and death
- place of birth and death
- accomplishments
Once research is complete, students will translate information
in Spanish and prepare to present research to the class.
The next part of the report is a written portion in English
that explains the Mexican holiday, The Day of the Dead. Include
sources in report.
The third part of the project includes a choice between making
a lapida, a headstone, or two calaveras, skulls. The headstone
is to be created using any type of material. The headstone must
bear: complete name of individual that was researched for the
oral report, date of birth and death, and a true likeness of
the person as he/she looked during his/her life.
Calaveras are sugar skulls that are similar to valentines,
meant to be happy and colorful. Calaveras are made using the
following recipe (to make approximately two).
- 1/3 pound of confectioners sugar
- 1 egg white
- Combine sugar and egg white to form a "dough" that
is not sticky. If it appears too sticky, add more sugar.
- Roll out dough and cut in the shape of a skull.
- For the face, decorate with colored candy, little silver
balls, nuts, noodles, cookie pieces, sprinkles, or licorice.
- For the hear, try coconut.
- Allow to air dry for a day.
Assessment
The oral and written report should contribute 65% to a test
grade and the lapida or calaveras should count as 35%. The reports
should be evaluated for content and oral technique. The lapida
or calaveras should be evaluated
for originality and creativity.
Resources and Related Links
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