Learning Activity

Virtual Exploration: Visiting Mexico's Day of the Dead Celebration

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This activity offers an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in Mexico´s Day of the Dead celebrations. Through the use of 360-degree videos, students are able to explore on their own as they watch the culture come to life in front of their eyes. Technological requirements are minimal but the awareness gained of Mexico´s products and practices are exponential.

This activity was created as a result of the World Languages COS Resource Development Summit.

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.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L1.11

Identify opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L1.11

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the locations of the target language specific countries.
  • the key attractions within the target language specific countries.
  • the key celebrations within the target language specific countries.

Skills

Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • access important travel documents and safety information online.
  • use physical and online resources to identify and participate in celebrations within the target language countries.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • access important travel documents and safety information online.
  • use online resources to evaluate hotels and attractions within target language countries.
  • use physical and online resources to identify and participate in celebrations within the target language countries.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • the target language is used around the world every day in many different contexts.
  • the target language can help one better understand the world around them.
  • the study of world languages expands one's opportunities.
  • language is a tool to connect with the world.
  • other understandings will depend on theme being taught.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students can:

  • Identify products, practices, and perspectives associated with Mexico´s Day of the Dead celebration.
  • Virtually attend a Mexican Day of the Dead celebration.

Activity Details

Divide students into groups and ask them to answer the following 3 questions in their first language (English).

  1. What products or physical items do you associate with the Day of the Dead celebration?
  2. What practices or activities do you think people participate in while celebrating Day of the Dead. 
  3. What is their perspective? Why do think that they celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico? 
  4. What is one thing you want to know about the Day of the Dead celebration?

As a whole class, lead the class in a discussion of their answers. Create a master list on the board of answers to these questions. 

Play the 360 video linked above. 360 videos are meant to be interactive allowing students to move the camera up, down, left, and right in order to immerse students in a new environment. Depending on accessible technology, there are various ways to experience this video.

  • Whole class- Play the video on a screen in front of the room. The teacher should scroll the video screen around so that students may experience the entire celebration setting. 
  • Individual devices (Chromebooks & laptops) - Ask students to use earphones so that they can watch the video at their own pace. As they watch, they can move the screen around so that students can view the events around them.
  • App products such as Ipads and cell phones - If available, view this video through the Youtube app. Do not use the web version of Youtube from the link above. The video can be easily searched in the app by typing in 'Mexico's Day of the Dead 360 CNN' in the search bar. Once the video loads, turn the phone or Ipad vertically so that the video displays in full screen. To change the angle, simply raise the phone up and down, or turn to the left and right. This appears to put the students in the center of the celebration. 
  • Virtual Reality headsets - If virtual reality headsets are available, follow the instructions for app-based products. Once the video is displayed full screen in the vertical position, touch the screen. An icon that looks like goggles will appear. Select this icon and the video will split into a VR view. Then, insert the phone or device into the VR headset. 

After watching the video, ask students to work in their groups to make a list of what they learned from the video. Specifically, ask them to create a list of the following things:

  1. What products or physical items did you see in the video that were unique to this celebration? (examples include: cemeteries, papel picado, painted faces)
  2. What practices or activities did you notice the people participating in? (examples include: decorating cemeteries, wearing face paint, playing music)
  3. What is their perspective? Why do they celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico? 
  4. Did you find an answer to the one thing you wanted to know about the Day of the Dead celebration?

As a whole class, lead the class in a discussion of their answers. Add their answers to the board next to their original answers. This allows students (and the teacher) to view what knowledge was gained from the lesson.

 

 

 

 

Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

  • Evaluate students' prior knowledge by asking the first set of questions.
  • Use the responses to the questions asked at the end to determine whether students were able to correctly identify the products, practices, and perspectives of this traditional celebration.

Variation Tips

  • If time allows, teach students the vocabulary associated with the products (nouns) and practices (verbs) discussed in class. 
  • After completing the activity, ask students to complete a Venn diagram in which they compare and contrast Mexico's Day of the Dead with Halloween in the United States.

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Before using this lesson, determine how you will show the video. If students are going to use personal devices or phones then they will need to bring headphones. If you are going to show the video to the entire class at one time then everyone can listen at the same time and headphones are not needed.

If students are going to use Ipads or cell phones, ensure that they have the Youtube app installed. (This is a standard, pre-installed app for most phones).

Digital Tools / Resources

Experience Mexico's Day of the Dead in 360 produced by CNN
http://viewpure.com/10fAVzpHY_k?start=0&end=0

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

chrissyroe
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