Author:
Denise Bily
Subject:
Languages, World Cultures, Educational Technology
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
High School
Grade:
9, 10, 11, 12
Tags:
  • Blended/Flipped
  • Iowa K-12 E-Curriculum
  • Puerto Rico
  • Spanish
  • World Languages
  • iowa-k-12-e-curriculum
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English, Spanish

    Education Standards

    ¿Cómo es Puerto Rico? - (What is Puerto Rico like?)

    Overview

    In this face to face or flipped lesson, students will examine some of the culture and traditions associated with Puerto Rico.  Then, they will compare and contrast what they've learned with one of the other countries we have researched (either Costa Rica or Argentina).  They will do this using the questioning prompt, "I Used to Think... But Now I Think...".

    (ACTFL Standards:  Cultures - 2.1 & Comparisons - 4.2)

    "I Used to Think... But Now I Think..."

    • Puerto Rico is the cultural focus of this chapter in our textbook.  Using the online textbook cultural video, students will watch the short segment on Puerto Rico and take notes.  
    • Students should make two columns for their notes:  "¡Qué interesante! (That's interesting!) and "¡No entiendo!" (I don't understand!"  In one column they should write down their new learning and/or things they find interesting.  In the second column they should write things that don't make sense/they don't understand or things they still have questions about/would like more information on.

    Students:  La Cultura de Puerto Rico

    • Puerto Rico is the cultural focus of this chapter in our textbook.  Log on to your  ¡Avancemos! account and go to Unidad 3 - Puerto Rico ¡Vamos de compras! and watch the cultural video.  While you are watching the video you are going to need to take some notes.  
    • In your notebooks, you should make two columns with the following titles for your notes:  "¡Qué interesante!" (That's interesting!) and "¡No entiendo!" (I don't understand!). 
    • In the ¡Qué interesante! column, you should write down any new learning and/or things you find interesting.
    • In the second column, the ¡No entiendo!" column, you should write down things that don't make sense to you, things you don't understand or things you still have questions about or would like more information on.
    • Students will then watch a second video (about 10 minutes) on Puerto Rico and continue taking notes under the "¡Qué interestante! and "¡No entiendo!" headings.
    • When you have completed watching and taking notes over the textbook video on Puerto Rico, you need to move on to a second video.
    • Now, you need to watch this second video, which is also on Puerto Rico and continue taking notes as you were before - writing down information under your column headings, "¡Quê interesante!" and "¡No entiendo!".
    • The teacher will create a Padlet page that has been divided in half with the heading on the left, "I Used to Think ____ about Puerto Rico." and the heading "But Now I Think _____ About Puerto Rico." on the right hand side of the Padlet page.
    • Share the first part of the questioning prompt with students: "I used to think _____ about Puerto Rico." and provide them with a couple of minutes to think about their responses to this prompt.  The teacher may ask the students to just think about their answers or write them down.
    • The teacher may prompt students with the following:  
      • "What were your thoughts about Puerto Rico before watching these videos?"  
      • "What did you know or believe to be true about the landscape, government, people, food etc. "
    • Now, provide students with the second part of the prompt: "But now I think _____ about Puerto Rico." and a few minutes to process.  The teacher may ask students to think about their answers or write them down.
    • The teacher may prompt students with:
      • What has changed in your thinging about Puerto Rico now?
      • What did you learn that you didn't know before?

    Puerto Rico: la información

    • I want you to think about the two videos you watched and the notes you took.  Take a couple of minutes and think about this sentence, "I used to think _____ about Puerto Rico."
      • How would you fill in the blank in that statement?  
      • "What were some of your thoughts about Puerto Rico before watching these two videos?"  
      • "What did you know or believe to be true about the landscape, government, people, food etc. "
    • Now, I want you to think about our two videos and this sentence: "But now I think _____ about Puerto Rico."
      • How would you fill in the blank in this sentence?
      • What has changed in your thinging about Puerto Rico now?
      • What did you learn about Puerto Rico that you didn't know before?
    • You have had some time to process your new learning on Puerto Rico and now it's time to share your thoughts.  
    • After students have had time to process these two questioning prompts, provide them with the link to the Padlet.
    • On the Padlet, have students contribute at least 2 comments to each side - 2 things they used to think to be true about P.R. and 2 things they now think about P.R.

    Padlet Sharing

    • I have created a Padlet where I would like you to share your responses to these two questions.  The Padlet has been divided into two columns with the headings "I Used to Think..." and "But Now I Think...".
    • On the Padlet, you need to contribute at least 2 comments (in one box, with your name) to each column.
      • 2 things you used to think to be true about Puerto Rico.
      • 2 things you now think/believe about Puerto Rico
    • (Place link to Padlet here)
    • To complete the lesson, students will participate in a discussion thread on the LMS.
    • Students will compare what they learned, the "Now I know _____ about Puerto Rico." to what they previously learned about Costa Rica and/or Argentina.
    • Students' comments/posts should include their new learning and show at least two ways the two countries are similar and one way they are different from each other.
    • Once students have created their original post, they will then need to comment on two (2) of their classmates posts.  In 3-5 sentences students should discuss why they are commenting on that particular post - was the post something they agree or disagree with; was there something they wanted to add to their classmates post; does the commentor have a particular question for the original author of the post.

    Al final

    • You are almost done.  Once you have contibuted your 4 comments to the Padlet, you need to particpate in the discussion thread on PowerSchool (our LMS).
    • So far this year we have studied Costa Rica, Argentina and now Puerto Rico.  While they all speak Spanish, each country has it's own unique customs, traditions, celebrations, foods, etc. On the discussion thread, follow the instructions and create a post in which you compare and contrast your learning about Puerto Rico to either Costa Rica or Argentina.  
    • In your post you should write a short paragraph (at least 5 sentences) describing at least 2 similarities between the two countries along with 1 difference.
    • Once you have created your post, you will then need to comment on the posts of two (2) of your classmates.  In 3-5 sentences you should discuss why you are commenting on that student's particular post - is the post something you agree or disagree with; is there something you want to add to your classmates post; do you have a particular question or comment for the original author of the post.

    Assessment - ¿Dónde quieres visitar?

    Now that students have learned some background information about Costa Rica, Argentina and Puerto Rico, students need to write a 3 paragraph essay and answer this question, "If you were able to travel to one of these 3 countries for two weeks (all expenses paid), which country would you travel to and why?"  Students should be able to support their choice with information we learned in class and three new pieces of information, researched on their own.  

    Students should be able to support their choice with the following:

    • What city/cities they would travel to.
    • When they would travel (season/month/dates).
    • What cultural traditions, festivals or activities they would participate in.
    • What cultural or regional foods they would eat.
    • What local handicrafts they would purchase.
    • What archeological, historical, or museum sites they would visit.
    • Is there anyone famous from that city? If so, what would they see or hear that is associated with that person?

    Students will compose their essay on a Google Doc and submit it on our LMS.

    Choices! Choices!  

    Now that you've learned ALL this information about Costa Rica, Argentina and Puerto Rico, you have a decision to make... Where to go!

    In a 3 paragraph essay, answer the following question, "If you were able to travel to one of these 3 countries for two weeks (all expenses paid), which country would you travel to and why?"  In your essay, you should be able to support your choice with information we learned in class AND three (3) new pieces of information you discovered while doing a little research on your own.

    You may want to support your decision with information that follows:

    • Name the city or cities you would travel to.
    • When would you travel (season/month/dates)?
    • What cultural traditions, festivals, or activites would you participate in?
    • What cultural or regional foods would you eat?
    • Are there any local handicrafts you could purchase?
    • What archeological, historical or museum sites would you visit?
    • Is there anyone famous from that city/area?  If so, what might you hear or see that is associated with him/her?

    Remember, this decision is up to you but you need to provide strong evidence as to why this is your choice.  Also, don't forget to include 3 new pieces of information we DID NOT learn in class.

    Students, you should create this essay on a Google Doc and submit it on PowerSchool.