EDUCATION AND THE INTERNET
Spanish I Project
Hispanic Influence in the U.S.

Ivy M. Jordan Tulin
ivy.tulin@wmtps.org
West Milford Township High School
67 Highlander Drive
West Milford, N.J. 07480

LEVEL: For Spanish I Students

GOALS: To have the students identify Hispanic influence as a "home culture"

STANDARDS: Curriculum Content- 7.2: Cross Content Readiness Standards-2.9

ACTIVITIES: Web Search; Reading, Surveying, Discussing, Journal Writing, Poster Creation

ASSESSMENTS: Identifying Lists; Journal; Poster

PROJECT TIME LINE: 5 Days

COMPUTER RULES: Students should have previous skills in web search, Microsoft Word, doing import /export or using Clip Art and using email.

OTHER MATERIALS NEEDED: None

GOAL EXPLANATION: Spanish I students frequently see Spanish language and culture as something foreign and incomprehensible. They also frequently doubt the need for them to learn the language and culture. The purpose of this project’s study is to have the students in the U.S. realize the Hispanic "touch" in their lives. The hope is that they will understand that the U.S. is a Hispanic nation. This unit will ask the students to research Hispanic influence in many areas of their lives, journal how many times a Hispanic influence crosses their paths, discuss the impact on their peer culture and explain to others why this is an important "home culture".

LESSON OVERVIEW: The students will be divided into pairs who will be assigned to research one of the following topic areas: Famous Hispanics in the U.S.; Popular Hispanic Movies/Actors; Popular Hispanic Music/Artists; Influences on American English; Popular Foods/Mexican Cuisine. They will access their assigned sites, read and print the info. and discuss with each other the areas they recognize, marking the printout. They will then survey other class members and mark anything recognized or deemed popular by other students. During the study, the students will keep a daily journal of influences they encounter. A full class discussion will summarize the research to that point. The students will then read the research on who are the Hispanics and view some statistics on their impact. The project will culminate with a poster project, which advertises the importance of the culture and it’s integration. The grade will consist of a group grade for the survey research and poster and a personal grade for the journal.

TIME NEEDED: Five days. Three days in the lab. One day for the initial research, one day for the summary reading, one day for the poster construction. Two days will be allotted for discussion and for planning of the poster.

MATERIALS: Internet sites that will be listed with the procedural plans; Microsoft Word; Clipart sites.

PROCEDURES:

DAY 1:

1. The teacher will introduce the topic to the students by asking them the following essential questions:

• What is the meaning of "Hispanic" or "Latino"?
• What is culture?
• What stereotypes come to mind when you think about Latinos in this country?
• Why are you studying Spanish?
• What Hispanic /Latino influences do you see in our country?
• Do you see yourself as separate from the Hispanic mainstream?
• Is the current Latino culture craze just a passing fad or is the Hispanic influence in the mainstream here to stay? (Latin Influence in Mainstream America)

The students will use the "Think and Write" instructional technique before sharing with the class. (Listen to the question, think, write an answer, share.)

2. The students will be divided into pairs and assigned a topic, which they will research from the corresponding websites.

1. Movies: http://members.tripod.com/rositah/cine.html
2. Music: http://latinoculture.about.com/mbubMusicos.htm
3. Language: http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa071700a.htm
4. Famous People: http://www.latinosportslegends.com/archives.htm

http://www.unbeatables.com/Hheroes.html

5. Foods: www.tacobell.com

3. The pairs will read and discuss the information at the site, making a copy for themselves that they will highlight to show what they recognize in their own lives, (Music they have at home, food they’ve eaten etc.) They will then add anything they personally know, that is not on the list.

4. The students will survey 5 other members of the class to see if they recognize other elements of the info. or the same elements. They will check-mark every time someone recognizes one that is already highlighted.

• Homework: (THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE ON-GOING THROUGH THE WEEK.) Begin and continue with a journal that logs how many times a Hispanic influence crosses your path during the day. Consider news, music, food, clothing, language, movies etc.

DAY 2:

1. The class will come together to discuss the findings on their research, both reading and survey, on each topic.
2. The students will write up the results of their survey and the conclusions drawn from the group discussion. (see attached student worksheet)

Day 3:

1. The students will go back to the lab to visit the following sites:
• www.tri-cityherald.com/newmajority/hispanics.html (Hispanics in the United States)
• www.worldbook.com/fun/cinco/html/influences.htm (Hispanic influences on culture and politics.

The students will answer the following questions during the reading of these articles:

1. If you were an advertising executive in this country, what would you think you had to do in marketing your product, after reading the info. in "Hispanics in the United States"? Why?
2. Having read "Hispanic Influences in Culture and Politics", tell how our previous definition of culture is demonstrated in the article.

Day 4:

1. Class discussion concerning the answers to the above questions.
2. The students will answer the question: How are you a part of the Hispanic Culture in the U.S.? "Think and Write" will be used, followed by discussion.
3. Student pairs work session: You are a school committee charged with the task of advertising the reasons why students should study Spanish. Make a poster that helps students realize the importance of the study and our connections to the culture.

Day 5:

LAB SESSION: Using Microsoft Word, each team will construct an advertising poster.

• Students who wish to do more work may go to the following sites, where they will find personal narratives by Hispanics about their cultures and the difficulties of assimilation. They may choose one article to read and write an essay about what the author defines as "Hispanic".

 

1. "Latin Influence in Main Stream America" www.allsands.com/Lifestyles/latinohispanic_jt_gn.htm
2. "Accept Us for Who We Are" www.vistamagazine.com/voice.htm

HISPANIC CULTURE PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

Project goal: To research the influence of Hispanics in the United States.

Requirements: Each student must hand in the following at the end of this project :

1. The student completed worksheet .
2. A personal daily journal covering the five days of this project, that records how you have been touched daily by Hispanic culture.
3. An advertising poster done with a partner, concerning why we should Study Spanish.
4. The students will be graded according to the enclosed rubrics and will receive a combined grade including all aspects of the project.

Day 1:

1. Answer the essential questions.
2. Go to the following websites to research your assigned topic.
1. Movies: http://members.tripod.com/rositsh/cine.html
2. Music: http://latinoculture.about.com/mbubMusicos.htm
3. Language: http://spanish.about.com/library/weekly/aa071700a.htm
4. Famous People: http://www.latinosportslegends.com.archives.htm

http:// www.unbeatables.com/Hheroes.html

5. Foods: www.tacobell.com
3. Highlight the elements of your research that you recognize in your own lives, then interview 5 other students and check off what they recognize. Add any extra elements that you can think of.

Day 2

1. Write up the results of your survey and your conclusions on the worksheet.

Day 3

Read the following articles and answer the questions on the worksheet:

1. www.tricityherald.com/newmajority/hispanics.html
2. www.worldbook.com/fun/cinco/html/influences.htm

Day 4

1. Answer the questions on the student worksheet regarding your part in Hispanic culture.
2. Work with your partner to develop your ideas for the poster.

Day 5

1. Create your poster.

 

Worksheet Grading Rubric/Journal Rubric

 

Project Participation Rubric

Category	Exemplary 4	Accomplished 3	Developmental 2	Beginning 1	Score in Points
Completeness	All topics were covered	Most topics were covered	Adequate topics were covered	There were less than adequate topics covered
Correctness	Information was clear, accurate and reflective	Information was sometimes clear, sometimes  accurate, and sometimes reflective.	Information was sometimes clear and  accurate	Information  was often not accurate
Documentation of Identifying Trait	All are documented	Most are documented	Some are documented	Very few or none are documented
Teamwork	Follows and completes all tasks equally well	Follows and completes most tasks	Some	Little to None

 

POSTER RUBRIC

 

Scoring Rubric for Portfolio Exhibits

5- Exhibit is very appropriate for topic and intelligence and communicates superior knowledge of topic. Exhibit is very clearly presented with high quality and shows much creativity.

4- Exhibit is appropriate for topic and intelligence and communicates strong knowledge of topic. Exhibit is clearly presented, shows quality and creativity but may not be up to superior standards.

3- Exhibit displays topic and intelligence but not completely appropriate. Communicates some knowledge of topic but may not be completely clear or show high quality and/or creativity.

2- Exhibit is not appropriate for topic and/or intelligence and may be incomplete. Communicates little knowledge of topic. Unclear and/or poor quality or shows little creativity. Below average standards.

1- Exhibit is not completed or inappropriate for topic. Shows no knowledge of topic and/or no creativity. Quality is very poor and reflects little or no effort.

0- Exhibit not submitted.

HISPANIC CULTURE PROJECT

Student Worksheet

 

Each student in your work team must turn in this sheet, completed.

Essential Questions:

1. What is the meaning of "Hispanic" or "Latino"?

_____________________________________________________________________

2. What is culture?

__________________________________________________________________

3. What stereotypes come to mind when you think about Latinos in this country? _____________________________________________________________

4.Why are you studying Spanish? _____________________________________________________________________

5.What Hispanic/Latino influences do you see in our country today?

_____________________________________________________________________

1. Do you see yourself as separate from the Hispanic mainstream? __________________________________________________________________
2. Is the Current Latino culture craze just a passing fad or is the Hispanic influence in the mainstream here to stay?

_____________________________________________________________________

Day 2

1. Our topic is ________________________
2. In our survey we discovered that__________________________________

 

Day 3

1. If you were an advertising executive in this country, what would you think you had to do in marketing your product, after reading the info. in "Hispanics in the United States"? Why?

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

2. Having read Hispanic Influences in Culture and Politics", tell how our previous definition of culture is demonstrated in the article.

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

 

Day 4

1. How are you a part of the Hispanic Culture in the U.S.?

_____________________________________________________________________

Day 5

Poster Slogan : __________________________________________________________

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