Love in Hispanic Cultures

Grade Focus
Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Age Level
15, 16, 17
Subject
Social Studies
Technology Integration Activity
Discovering the Internet, Imaging, Online Safety, PowerPoint Presentations
Estimated Time of Completion
Using block periods: 4
Author: Myriam Pitts Last modified: 03/29/2012

Love in Hispanic Cultures

Downloads for this lesson plan

Introduction

Students will learn how Hispanic cultures from ancient times to the present have used poems, songs, painting, sculpture etc. to express love.  They will discover the universality of human emotion and how artists use their craft and talents to extol the range of feelings associated with love. They will also understand the religious, governmental, ideological and cultural barriers and constrictions imposed on such expressions. Technologies will be used to help document and present student observations to share in class with class mates.

NOTE: The initial part of this lesson plan helps the teacher plan and prepare to teach the lesson; the following sections (Engage through Evaluate) provide instruction for the students and may be printed/provided to students, as desired. The Standards section helps teachers correlate this lesson into their curriculum.

Prerequisite Experience

Students should be able to use a computer and upload digital images and audio to a computer. Depending on their skill level, students may present their findings through a variety of media, e.g. either by using PowerPoint or through a web page, video animation…

Teacher Prep Time

1-2 hours depending upon experience

Teachers/students should review the following tutorials on a per need basis:

·                 imaging: http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/Imaging  

·                 PowerPoint presentations: http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/PowerPoint_Presentations

·                 web content creation: http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/Webpage_Creation

·                 Smartboard™ access and software http://smarttech.com/Trainingcenter/online/index.asp 

·                 audio http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/Digital_Audio

·                 video animation http://tinyurl.com/7od5w5k

Project

Students read poetic segments by Neruda (Poema No. 15 http://www.los-poetas.com/a/neru1.htm#POEMA%2015), Bécquer (Rimas XXI, XXIII, XXVIII http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Plantilla:Rimas_Becqueras) and also look at love in painting by Rivera (http://www.diego-rivera.org/). While these excerpts are only tip of the iceberg in terms of Hispanic cultural exposure where love is concerned, it will show them the way to get started. Working in groups of maximum four people, they create an understanding of the topic by presenting their findings.  If time permits, they may extend this project to conduct more research on the cultural influence of the Hispanic notion of love on other cultures and languages, demonstrating their understanding through establishing links to their world. Level appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and culture introduction with mastery of learning performance should precede this project.Re. use of web-based resources: students need to cross-reference the second column of the check-list below during research.
 Questions to ask yourselfQuick check-list: + or –
Author
or
Source
  • Is there a clearly identified author of the work?
  • Are the author's credentials for writing on this topic stated?
  • Is the author affiliated with an organization?
  • Does the site or page represent a group, organization, institution, corporation, or government body?
  • Is there a link back to the organization's page or a way to contact the organization or the author to verify the credibility of the site (address, phone number, email address)?
  • Is it clear who is responsible for the creation and/or maintenance of the site or page?
o      –  Popular or              + professional (scholarly) writing/content?o      Header and footer information? 
Accuracy
  • Is this part of an edited or peer-reviewed publication?
  • Can factual information be verified through footnotes or bibliographies to other credible sources?
  • Based on what you already know about the subject, or have checked from other sources, does this information seem credible?
  • Is it clear who has the responsibility for the accuracy of the information presented?
  • If statistical data is presented in graphs or charts is it labeled clearly?
o       +References, biographies, footnotes?o       + Abstract?o       + Reviews?o       + Graphs quality?o       + Sections?o       + Indexed?o       – Ads?o       – Eye-candy? 
Currency
  • Is there a date stating when the document was originally created?
  • Is it clear when the site or page was last updated, revised or edited?
  • Are there any indications that the material is updated frequently or consistently to ensure currency of the content?
  • If there are links to other Web pages are they current?
o      + Date?o      + or – Links current?o     
Objectivity
  • Is the page free of advertising? If the page does contain advertising, are the ads clearly separated from the content?
  • Does the page display a particular bias or perspective? Or is the information presented factually, without bias?
  • Is it clear and forthcoming about its view of the subject?
  • Does it use inflammatory or provocative language?
o      + Facts? o      – Bias / opinion? o      + or – Language?o      –Password/sign-up required?
Coverage
  • Why are they covering this topic?
  • Is there any indication that the page is incomplete or that it is not still under construction?
  • If there is a print equivalent to the Web page, is there clear indication of whether the entire work or only a portion is available on the Web?
o      + or – Reason for publication?o      – Lampoon or + Real?o      + Own search engine?
Purpose·       Is it comprehensive or does it only represent a narrow focus?o      Relevance? o      – Bias / opinion? o      Range of informationo      – Fee-based? 

Assessment/Grading

Through answers to discussion questions after their presentation, students will demonstrate their understanding of how Hispanic cultures from ancient times to the present have used poems, songs, painting, sculpture etc. to express love.

Time Management Tips

Students should work in teams. Each team should select from the technology options a single technology to use for their project, i.e., digital imaging, a PowerPoint presentation, or developing web page content etc. Teacher should show students finished products of other powerpoints, good and bad, to see A+ work and pittfalls. 

Lesson Plan Details

Engage

Through the centuries, people of all cultures have been fascinated with love. It has been/is the driving force for many historical decisions be it in families, politics, religion or other areas.  Famous Hispanic love stories stand the test of time and are recognized as global monuments of import to this powerful feeling. Many are the buildings, the lyrics, the music etc, celebrating the power of love. People throughout history (not just Hispanic) have learned to deal with all types of love and how to, but to name a few actions, foster love, or deal with unrequited love. How would life change if love were not available or not permissible in Hispanic cultures?

Explore

1. Each student group decides on the focus of their “love” discoveries: music, writing, art, specific person, trend… in Hispanic culture for further study. Students need to be careful to keep accurate bibliographical records for citation purposes of any consulted research material that they may end up using in their project and copyright issues. Watch the Nortel LearniT video tutorial at http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/Digital_Ethics/

2. Each group decides on a technological form to present their findings.

4. Anecdotal detail will capture not only their interest but also that of their audience. Continue project by taking notes on what influences are important to the chosen topic. Organizing thoughts using a word processor will allow for easy inserts, corrections, background information.

   

Explain

Students need to organize thoughts, observations, by using an outline/graphic organizer that befits their focus on “love” in Hispanic culture using who, what, when, where, why, how, relationships, resulting actions, philosophies, changes, habits, speech patterns… How did cultural “love” traditions, helped or hinder Hispanic people then and today? Depending on your skill level, show that you can blog (https://www.blogger.com/start) about your topic and that you received info that way. If you are ready for a more advanced task, include RRS feed in your research. For more info on how to make an RSS feed, go to http://www.rss-specifications.com/promote-your-blog.htm RSS feeds are helpful if you want a lot of info coming to you from different places. It is easier if you have your own website. Showing you learned how to incorporate new technology into your project and how it enhanced your learning, will earn you major points.

Elaborate

Predict where the next cultural “love” change or impact may come from. Edit notes and the collected data. Discuss the material with team members. Plan how research will be displayed for class sharing. One option would be to begin by creating a storyboard to creatively organize material. Blanks can be downloaded from here http://images.google.com/images?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4SUNA_enUS277US277&q=blank+storyboard&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=SCpnS5eeO5KEmQfF_f2aAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB4QsAQwAABefore starting PowerPoint slides (or other presentation), online tutorial offer good tips on making a great presentation. Examples:  http://edu.LearniT-TeachiT.org/technology/PowerPoint_Presentations. Information regarding HTML coding and the actual production of a web site: http://edu.learnit-teachit.org/technology/Webpage_Creation/Start presentation with a descriptive title. Use multimedia techniques, e.g., images and sounds, throughout the presentation—to help communicate the key information to audience. End presentation with credits, references and people you need to thank. The final step is for the team to share the PowerPoint presentation, or web content with the entire class by the due date J

Evaluate

Evaluation Rubric
CriteriaLevel 1 (D)Level 2 (C)Level 3 (B)Level 4 (A)
RESEARCH (attach web-resource checked list)Limited , from limited sources; provides no evidence of critical thinking to evaluate content.Somewhat efficient & uses some critical thinking to evaluate content from somewhat varied sources.Well researched, from various sources and uses critical thinking to evaluate content.Thorough, from varied sources presenting different points of view & uses critical thinking to evaluate content.
STORYBOARD/PLANNINGLimited planning evident.Some planning evident.Planning evident.Thorough planning evident.
CONTENTLacks detail.Some detail.Good detail.Excellent detail.
TECHNOLOGY USE TO DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING- Technology use with little purpose.
- Few links are active and access the correct destination.
- Use of technology  presents findings using a few simple ideas.
- Font & color choices are not professional or aesthetically pleasing.		- Technology use with some purpose.
- Some links are active and access the correct destination.
- Use of technology presents findings using a variety of simple ideas.
- Font & color choices are somewhat professional & aesthetically pleasing.		- Technology use with purpose.
- Most links are active and access the correct destination.
- Use of technology presents findings using some complexity.
- Font & color choices are professional & aesthetically pleasing.		- Intuitive techno use with specific purpose.
- All links active and access the correct destination.
- Use of technology presents findings using complex ideas.
- Font and color choices are professional, consistent and aesthetically pleasing.
APPLIED UNDERSTANDINGNot evident.Somewhat evident.Evident.Clearly evident.
OVERALL FINAL PROJECTInconsistent and inappropriate aesthetics & technical functionality. Somewhat consistent & appropriate aesthetics & technical functionality.Consistent & appropriate aesthetics & technical functionality.Consistent, creative & appropriate aesthetics & technical functionality.
  

Extend

Complete this activity to demonstrate cultural awareness and appreciation.  

You are at a reception inauguration the opening of a philanthropist’s museum dedicated to Hispanic way of life. Their first vernissage is about Love and Hispanic Culture. The local news editor invited you to do an op-ed on this addition to the community. The neighborhood is not pleased that money was spent on this as they have many unmet needs that could have benefited from a philanthropist’s generous donation.

Your article needs to be only two paragraphs long.