Classroom Resource

Mexican Culture and History Through Its National Holidays

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This novice low Spanish activity is geared toward introducing middle school-aged students to a variety of holidays celebrated in Mexico. Students will identify ethnic and religious influences on Mexican culture, understand the meaning and history of Día de Los Muertos, Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Grito de Dolores, and Cinco de Mayo. Students will explore these holidays through a variety of activities that include analyzing photos, building memorial altars, and exploring websites. The provided assessment asks students to compare and contrast one of the holidays with one from the United States.

World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NLP.4

Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.NLP.4

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • typical activities and events of the target culture.
  • children's songs, poetry, and rhymes from the target culture.

3-5
Students know:
  • typical activities and events of the target culture.
  • children's songs, poetry, and rhymes from the target culture.

6-8
Students know:
  • landmarks from target language.
  • information from target language.
  • cultural information linked to themes taught.
  • songs, poetry and rhymes from the target culture.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the target culture.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the targte culture.
  • identify common beliefs and attitudes within the target culture.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • identify patterns of social behavior and interactions typical of the culture.
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the target culture.
  • analyze cultural perspectives.
  • identify common beliefs and attitudes within the target culture.

Understanding

K-2
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.

6-8
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • the study of a foreign language develops insights into the nature of language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NLP.7

Investigate, analyze, and reflect on similarities and differences between the target and native cultures.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.NLP.7

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • what tangible products are associated with target and native cultures.

3-5
Students know:
  • what tangible products are associated with target and native cultures.

6-8
Students know:
  • what tangible products are associated with target and native cultures.
  • what intangible products are associated with target and native cultures.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • recognize tangible products.
  • recognize culturally appropriate behaviors.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • recognize tangible products.
  • recognize intangible products.
  • recognize cultural practices of the target and native cultures.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • recognize tangible products.
  • recognize intangible products.
  • recognize cultural practices of the target and native cultures.
  • analyze cultural perspectives of the target and native cultures.

Understanding

K-2 Students understand:
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.

6-8
Students understand that:
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L1.4

Identify practices of the target cultures.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L1.4

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to appropriately greet and address a variety of people within the target culture.
  • which specific holidays, celebrations and events are important to the target language culture.

Skills

Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • address others in a culturally appropriate manner.
  • identify practices associated with specific target language culture events such as celebrations and holidays.
  • identify practices associated with the student's own events, celebrations, and holidays.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • address others in a culturally appropriate manner.
  • identify practices associated with specific target language culture events such as celebrations and holidays.
  • identify practices associated with the student's own events, celebrations, and holidays.
  • investigate the relationship between cultural practices and perspectives.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better.
  • understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L1.9

Identify products, practices, and perspectives of the target culture and the native culture.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L1.9

Knowledge

Student know:
  • how to identify important cultural products, practices, and perspectives that are important within their own personal lives.
  • how to use present tense verbs to describe what people do.
  • how to use adjectives to describe nouns.

Skills

Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • identify the products, practices, and perspectives that are unique to native culture.
  • identify the products, practices, and perspectives that are unique to the target language culture including celebrations, music, games, and rhymes.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • identify the products, practices, and perspectives that are unique to native culture.
  • identify the products, practices, and perspectives that are unique to the target language culture including celebrations, music, games, and rhymes.
  • compare and contrast native and target culture products, practices and perspectives.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • there are similarities and differences in the characteristics of the target culture and their own.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • by studying another culture, one can better understand and appreciate their own.
  • other understanding will depend on theme being taught.
Link to Resource
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/mexican-culture-and-history-through-its…

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Edsitement
Accessibility
License

License Type

Attribution

Approved Date

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