We have a four day week this week preceding our Spring Break. It also happens to be the last week of the quarter. This would typically lead to a lack in student motivation and an awkward time for me to start a new unit. Lucky for us we have my favorite culture project all ready to go!
I have talked about this project before, but I am happy to report that I finally have it all ready to go for any teacher to use in their classroom. So, I thought I would share some of the highlights so that all of you can decide if this would be a worthwhile project for your students.
Tomorrow, I will begin by having my students choose from different photographs representing everyday life in Spanish-speaking countries. The photographs themselves speak volumes about the rich and varied cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. These photographs are easy to find online or you can use my collection.
Once students have chosen a photograph, we will start class each day of the week learning about a different artist from Spain or Latin America. This year we will be learning about Fernando Botero (Colombia), Joan Miró (Spain), Frida Kahlo (Mexico), and Pablo Picasso (Spain). The presentations are in both Spanish and English so that I can use them with any level class.
I have talked about this project before, but I am happy to report that I finally have it all ready to go for any teacher to use in their classroom. So, I thought I would share some of the highlights so that all of you can decide if this would be a worthwhile project for your students.
Tomorrow, I will begin by having my students choose from different photographs representing everyday life in Spanish-speaking countries. The photographs themselves speak volumes about the rich and varied cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. These photographs are easy to find online or you can use my collection.
Once students have chosen a photograph, we will start class each day of the week learning about a different artist from Spain or Latin America. This year we will be learning about Fernando Botero (Colombia), Joan Miró (Spain), Frida Kahlo (Mexico), and Pablo Picasso (Spain). The presentations are in both Spanish and English so that I can use them with any level class.
I also give my students an easy to follow guided note sheet so that they can write down key information about each artist as they learn.
Each day, after learning about a new artist, they will recreate their photograph in the style of that artist. This is a great way for students to apply what they have learned in a creative, engaging, hands-on way. The finished products make great classroom decorations, portfolio additions, or examples to show parents of student work.
The best part is that after completing this project, students will start to notice that the work of these artists really is everywhere! They will be able to recognize the style of each artist and catch all the pop culture references from books, poems, and the internet.
Thinking of trying this in your own classroom? Here is everything you need for a whole week of culture!
Thinking of trying this in your own classroom? Here is everything you need for a whole week of culture!