In my Spanish 1 expansion course this trimester, culture & civilization, I sent out a Google form with many culture ideas that we could investigate and learn about as a class. One of their top choices was the Guerra Sucia in Argentina, so this is how we started the class.
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We started with this comprehensible culture unit from Martina Bex about the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo. We went through the discussion questions, Spanish language cultural reading, comprehension questions, listening activity, and slide show. We also did the song activity for Maná – Desapariciones. (We saved the interpersonal discussion questions and writing activity for the end of the unit assessments).
Since the students seemed to be craving more in relation to the topic, we investigated further with Guerra Sucia Stations by Kristy Placido. They made for good independent work for students while providing more material and opportunities for discussion.
We then watched the 1985 movie La Historia Oficial with subtitles in English and used movie questions in English to keep students focused, and provide more discussion. It is rated R for some languages, but all students and their parents signed a permission slip for class. It is a little slow but does show the perspective of the Desaparecidos from another side.
If this was an upper level class, we would have read the Wayside Publishing novel La Guerra Sucia, but it is too far out of the language range of this particular class. Also, our plan is to investigate many mini cultural units for only about a week or two each.
For assessments, we used materials from Martina Bex’s unit . Students used the interpersonal discussion question cards as an informal assessment, while I circulated and listened. Then individually they did the writing activity, where I just wanted them to write in Spanish about anything they learned from the unit.
What are your favorite resources for teaching about La Guerra Sucia?
Here are some other mini cultural units that I have used in the past or plan to use this year.
This is awesome! Love all the units you share. I would love to know more about how your classes are run/set up/leveled. I teach 6 levels on my own and 3 of them have to start over at the beginning. Your class set up sounds interesting would you be willing to share how your school sets up your Spanish courses?
Tana,
As a department of 1 I get a lot of say in how the Spanish classes are set up. Here is my curriculum this year http://misclaseslocas.blogspot.com/2016/01/curriculum-year-4.html
Normally we have levels 1-4, plus 7th & 8th grade exploratory for 6 weeks each a year. This year we are on trimesters and next year will be semesters, so we had a weird 1 trimester gap to fill between Spanish 1 & 2. We decided to do a culture class that is an enrichment for those who need more support going into the next level. This is the class where are of these mini units are going. The goal is to let them learn about what they are interested in, learn some culture and practice their Spanish.
Let me know if you have more questions!
Allison
I love the culture class that you decided to do! I am also a department of 1, so I have a lot of say in my courses/curriculum. I have 6th grade 9 week exploratory, a 7/8th combo semester long class, then Spanish 1-3 this year and next year it will be 1-4, 3/4 combo class. What will you change for going to semesters next year? How do you make it so you aren't starting over with the same stuff (basics, etc.) from your 7th and 8th grade going into your Spanish one? Sorry for so many questions! This is my second year and trying to make it the best layout for my students and I really learn a lot from your blog!
I am the same Tana as above just from my other google account! Sorry for any confusion 🙂
Tana,
The switch from trimesters to semesters will not change much since 2 trimesters counted as a "level" just like 2 semesters.
My exploratory and Spanish 1 class are mostly doing Martina's units. My plan for next year is to keep moving with the units for the next jr high grade. This means 8th grade explore next year will start at Martina's unit 4. Her units naturally review and spiral. Hopefully the goal is eventually Spanish 1 will get farther, since they will start farther along.
Let me know if you have more questions!
Allison
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My Spanish 3 kids (juniors) are reading La Guerra Sucia right now and they are really enjoying it! I had planned on showing either La Historia Oficial or Cautiva after we finish, but I am having the hardest time finding the DVDs anywhere. (I did find both on Amazon but they are SUPER expensive!) Any suggestions on where to find them for a more reasonable price?