Action Plan/Schedule
Lesson 1: • Introduce the adapted Twas the Night before Christmas. • Have students locate and translate Spanish vocabulary. Use a dictionary for any unfamiliar words or phrases • Teacher leads discussion of customs concerning gift giving time in American culture. • Organize class thought in word web format using Santa as the center and quien, que, donde, cuando, por que, and como as spokes. http://www.cleverclickster.com/mayatime/poema.html Lesson 2: • Explain that the Spanish equivalent of Santa is Los Tres Reyes Magos. • Provide students with 3-5 websites that explain the holiday of Los Tres Reyes • Magos. Allow ample time for investigation. Instruct students to write down 15 key words associated with the holiday. • Help students to develop a second word web with Los Tres Reyes Magos in the center and spokes of quien, que, donde, cuando, por que, and como.. http://www.elboricua.com/losreyes.html http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/features/christmas.htm http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/aa122500a.php Lesson 3: • Display the two word webs and encourage students to compare and contrast. • Organize discussion thoughts by drawing a Venn diagram - Santa as one entry and LTRM as the other and Both in the overlapping section. Also point out the difference between secular and religious. Lesson 4: • Read funny letters that children have written to Santa. • Tell the class that today they are each going to write three letters to LTRM. First each student will individually write a letter from the point of view of a child to one Reyes. The second letter is from the point of view of an adult (parent, teacher etc..) about the child to the Rey. The third letter will be a response from the Rey to either the child or adult. Facts (good/bad, merits/excuses, tell on/tell about) may be real or imagined. ALL WORK IS TO BE DONE IN ESPANOL.
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Teacher needs to review Spanish letter format with class. http://www.emailsanta.com/Letters-to-Santa.htm Click on read funny emails from Santa. http://www.emailsanta.com/Letters-to-Santa-2htm Click on read funny emails to Santa.
Lesson 5: • Read one or two funny letters from kids to Santa as a warm up. Review Spanish letter format. Give students remaining time to work on their letters. Lesson 6: • Give students time to publish their work. Students who finish early may respond via Internet and post their letter to one of the kings. http://www.emailsanta.com/Letter-to-Santa.2htm Lesson 7: • Reintroduce Twas the Night Before Christmas. Tell the students that it is now their turn to be poets. As a class they will cooperatively write Twas La Noche Antes Reyes. Using their key word lists from their internet investigation, the students can insert Spanish words and phrases where applicable in the poem. Students should change the ideas to meet their needs as they explain the holiday. Publish on chart paper. Lesson 8: • Let the class develop a computer generated word search activity for younger students. The class should use their prior knowledge and key word list to develop vocabulary for the search. Make sure that both cultures are represented. Lesson 9: • In preparation to present their work to another group. let the class practice reading both poems. Suggest that students develop hand motion to go with the verses. • When ready, take both word webs, the Venn diagram, and word search with you and visit a lower grade. Have some student volunteer read the Christmas poem to the younger students and another student volunteer explain the word web. • Repeat the process with the Reyes poem. Have another volunteer summarize with the Venn diagram. • To test student comprehension, the lower class should complete the word search.
Perhaps the class could celebrate afterwards with an authentic rosca (roscon) cake baked by student volunteers. Remember a real rosca cake has a small gift like a large coin or small doll baked inside. Be Careful!
http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/holidays/epiphany/spain-bread.htm
Hook/Prior Knowledge
There are several hooks used throughout the unit. 1. 2. 3. 4. The familiar and engaging poem Twas the Night before Christmas sets the stage. Familiar vocabulary is presented in a novel and humorous way. Students already know how to use word webs and Venn diagrams. Students love to use the internet for investigation. All of the websites chosen have pictures and some have music. They are colorful and attractive. 5. Funny Letters to Santa capture attention and students will identify with this experience. 6. Everyone loves Santa/gifted. Los Tres Reyes Magos is an already understood custom with a new time, place and tradition. 7. Kids are kids everywhere. 8. Writing letters is a simple format to practice and assess skill. 9. Kids are hams and love to perform. 10. Computer generated word search is a fun non-threatening way to assess knowledge. 11. Students usually love treats. The rosca cake with its prize is a fun reward. 12. Students in this age group love to work cooperatively in groups.
Learning Experiences and Progress Indicators
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Learners will translate familiar vocabulary. Learners will use dictionary skills. Learners will practice pronunciation. Learners will use organizational tools to compare and contrast cultures. Learners will compose original letters using appropriate format, capitalization, punctuation, singular/plural spellings, masculine and feminine endings, as well as correct verb (regular) usage. 6. Students will understand and use point of view in composition. 7. Students will use the internet to locate information. 8. Students will prepare an adapted poem and share it with an audience. 9. Students will define secular and religious and give appropriate cultural explanations. 10. Students will describe holiday practices. 11. Students will realize the importance of the Catholic religion to Spanish culture.
Materials
Copies of adapted poem Twas the Night before Christmas Spanish dictionaries Chart paper and markers Student notebooks and pencils Access to internet sites Spanish format letter (3 per student) Disc for word search game Recipe for rosca cake Several shoe boxes (optional Grass or hay (optional)
Technology Connections
http://www.cleverclickster.com/mayatime/poema.html You will find the adapted for Spanish Twas the Night Before Christmas poem. http://www,elboricua.com/losreyes.html This site gives background information on the Los Tres Reyes Magos holiday. http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/features/christmas.htm Additional background on the celebration of El Dia de Los Tres Reyes Magos is here. http://www.lasculturas.com/aa/aa122500a.php More information on the holiday is given http://www.emailsanta.com/Letters-to-Santa.htm Just what it says. Ignore sorry page and click on Letters to Santa http://www.emailsanta.com/Letters-to-Santa.2htm More of the same. Preread before class. http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/holidays/epiphany/spain.bread.htm Gives recipe and picture of cake.
Integration/Extensions Practicing the target language Spanish can be extended in many ways:
While this unit is primarily designed to incorporate foreign language and language arts skills, many other disciplines could be included. Students will have ample practice with public speaking and choral reading with phrases repeated in the target language. An understanding of the multi-meaning word “epiphany” is essential. Science students can discuss the star the Magos followed, learning not only star words but also directional words. Animal adaptation for climate e and purpose could be noted with weather and seasonal words employed. Physical and chemical changes will be observed if the rosca cake is baked. Home economic/math students will practice measuring and sequential skills in baking and could learn Spanish ordinal words. Geography can be incorporated in discussing the climate of each region as well as the political organization of the Reyes” countries. Types of homes for different climates could lead to a lesson developing room names and household items learned in Spanish. For an art connection Students should be encouraged to create bilingual greeting cards for El Dia de Los Tres Reyes. As for a music connection, students might want to practice an easy folk dance. Older students might enjoy learning simple salsa step