Tumba Chapter 3 – Altares

Inside: Teaching the book Tumba chapter 3. Teaching about Altares in Spanish class. Teaching Tumba by Mira Canion.

Author – Allison Wienhold

Published – April 1, 2015

We are continuing with Tumba by Mira Canion in Spanish 1. Here are previous posts my first year teaching the novel Tumba.

Introducing Tumba
Tumba Chapter 1
Tumba Chapter 2
+ More updated post Teaching the novel Tumba

Teaching Tumba Chapter 3

Tumba chapter 3 is focused on the alters created for Day of the Dead. Before starting the chapter we did the following activities related to las ofrendas and los altares.

This Video on Vimeo does not have any words but instead shows some of the vocabularies on the screen related to an ofrenda such as papel picado, flores, la Catrina, calaveras, and more. It is perfect to use for movie talk, pausing, and describing what is being shown.

Altar infographic

We used this infographic last fall during our Day of the Dead mini-unit. Students used their computers to view the infographic, while answering reading comprehension questions in English. It could also be printed, or posted in the room to do a similar activity. To review this chapter, I projected it, and we discussed in Spanish what elements are typically included. We also discussed what they would put on an altar of a loved one.

Creating an altar

If we had not already done this in the fall, after reading chapter 3 would be a great time to have the students create altars for someone they know or a famous person who has passed away. These could be drawn on paper and described, or actually created in class.

Instead, after I read and discussed Chapter 3, we listened to the audio book of the chapter and students drew out the altar that is described, as well as the other people and events in the chapter. They then explained their drawings to a friend, once again reviewing the chapter.

Learn more about making your own alter in the post Day of the Dead Crafts & Projects

Day of the Dead Crafts & Projects

More Resources for Altars

Anatomy of an Ofrenda Infografic

Day of the Dead Crafts – make an altar

Next Chapter 4!

You can find all resources for Tumba here.

You can find more resources for the Day of the Dead Here.

More Tumba in Spanish Class

More Mexico Resources

Movies to Pair with Tumba

Wany to learn more about teaching with novels?

Before you start…

Teaching Whole-Class Novels

Other Ways to Teach with Novels

source

Share it:

Read more about: culture, Day of the Dead, novels, Tumba

Allison Wienhold

Allison Wienhold of Mis Clases Locas has a decade of experience as a #deptof1 secondary Spanish teacher in Iowa. She enjoys creating curricula using novels, films, and music. Allison provides professional development to World Language teachers, including being the keynote speaker at MALT and Comprehensible Iowa, and workshop presenter at dozens of state & regional organizations, school districts, AEAs, and virtual conferences.