Using Student Created Artwork to Reach Beyond the Walls of the Classroom

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Overview

Students will create culturally inspired artwork to be displayed in a local business. For example, students learning Spanish will create unique works of art inspired by the culture of Mexico to be displayed in Mexican restaurants in their community. Students will also learn simple vocabulary and useful phrases to be able to communicate in the target language when visiting Mexican restaurants. Throughout the lesson, the students will be exposed to cognates and “borrowed words” to help them begin comparing and contrasting the target language with the English language.

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

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NLP.6

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

UP:WL17.WL.NLP.6

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • what cognates are.

3-5
Students know:
  • what cognates are.
  • how to recognize formal and informal language.

6-8
Students know:
  • proper target language pronunciation.
  • how to recognize formal and informal language.
  • various tangible products.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • recognize and use simple cognates.
  • recognize formal and informal language.
  • use formal and informal language.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • recognize and use simple cognates.
  • recognize formal and informal language.
  • use formal and informal language.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • recognize and use simple cognates.
  • recognize formal and informal language
  • use formal and informal language.
  • use proper pronunciation.

Understanding

K-2
Students understand that:
  • by learning another language one can better understand how the native language works.
  • other understandings will depend on theme taught.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • by learning another language one can better understand how the native language works.
  • Other understanding will depend on theme taught.

6-8
Students understand that:
  • by learning another language one can better understand how the native language works.
  • other understandings will depend on 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.

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): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NLP.8

Acquire the ability to interact in the target culture beyond the classroom and set goals for life-long learning.

UP:WL17.WL.NLP.8

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • how to recognize cognates and borrowed words.
  • where the target language is spoken around the world.

3-5
Students know:
  • how to recognize cognates and borrowed words.
  • proficiency levels.
  • where the target language is spoken around the world.

6-8
Students know:
  • proficiency levels.
  • where the target language is spoken around the world.
  • where the target language is spoken in the community.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • use cognates.
  • use borrowed words.
  • use background knowledge to aid comprehension.
  • use gestures and body language appropriately.
  • present information about themselves with one word or simple learned phrases.
  • sing songs in the target language.
  • label familiar words.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • use cognates.
  • use borrowed words.
  • use background knowledge to aid comprehension.
  • use gestures and body language appropriately.
  • present information about themselves with one word or simple learned phrases.
  • sing songs in the target language.
  • label familiar words.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • use cognates.
  • use borrowed words.
  • use background knowledge to aid comprehension.
  • use gestures and body language appropriately.
  • present information about themselves with one word or simple learned phrases.
  • sing songs in the target language.
  • label familiar words.

Understanding

K-2
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.

3-5
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.

6-8
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.

Learning Objectives

Students can compare and contrast American food with Mexican food.

Students can recognize cognates.

Students can recognize words that have been “borrowed” from the target language (taco, quesadilla).

Students can orally communicate using simple vocabulary and useful phrases.

Activity Details

The teacher will ask students what would they draw as a picture to represent Mexico. Make a list of answers. As a whole group, look at pictures of Mexican celebrations and Mexican restaurants on the internet to add to the list and to generate discussion. Talk about the different types of foods, the colors, the decorations, what people are wearing, and the music (musicians and dancing). Read books such as Build a Burrito: A Counting Book in English and Spanish by Denise Vega and Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez. Discuss cognates and borrowed words while compiling the list. Using the list that is created, the students and teacher can compare and contrast the things on the list to the things that are in the students' native culture. Next, students can draw and color a picture that represents the culture of Mexico. They can use ideas from the list that was generated by the class and images from the internet to guide their choices. The teacher will make arrangements to have artwork displayed in a local Mexican restaurant or display artwork at school for a student viewing. The artwork could be judged and prizes given for best artwork.

Assessment Strategies

To assess the student's understanding of the objectives, determine if the student can orally compare and contrast foods using cognates and borrowed words.

Background / Preparation

Resources for Activity

Google Images

Build a Burrito: A Counting Book in English and Spanish by Denise Vega

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto and Ed Martinez

Have students do communicative activities using  food vocabulary and “Yo quisiera…” (I would like). Students should then plan a future trip to a Mexican restaurant, and they could receive an incentive for ordering in Spanish.

Choose some Google images that would be appropriate for the age and level of students.

Reach out to local Mexican restaurants to see if they would be interested in displaying artwork and/or offering incentives for students that order in Spanish.

 

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