CULTURE LESSON PLANS FOR SPANISH CLASSES
These lesson plans are written with teachers in mind, but if you don’t mind being your
own teacher, you can complete the student activities in these lessons.
ART
Art and Identity in Mexico, from the Olmec to Modern Times
Common Visions, Common Voices Trace similar motifs in the artwork and folklore of
India, Africa, the Maya, and Native Americans.
Diego Rivera Lesson Plan
Frida Kahlo Lesson Plan for Tacoma Art Museum. Start here, then continue with the
following links:
 http://www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo/guides/teachers_discussion.html
Answer these discussion questions about Frida Kahlo. Question 10: What is your
favorite Kahlo painting? Why?
 www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo This site gives excellent detail about the
paintings. Click on “enter works of art.”
 Video: The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo, PBS documentary by Any Stechler,
www.pbs.org/weta/fridakahlo For your information, this video is available through
the Aberdeen Timberland Regional Library. http://trlib.org/
Muralist Art in Washington State's Latino Community
Retablo Style Self Portrait Lesson Plan
Surrealism and Salvador Dali Lesson Plan
AZTECS, MAYA AND INCA
The Aztecs — Mighty Warriors of Mexico The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was the
hub of a rich civilization that dominated the region of modern-day Mexico at the
time the Spanish forces arrived. In this lesson, students will learn about the history and
culture of the Aztecs and discover why their civilization came to an abrupt end.
The Eagle Has Landed: Aztecs Find a Home This lesson introduces students to the
Aztec Empire and people and to the legend of their founding of Tenochtitlan, the city
that later became the capital of Mexico.
Understanding the Ancient Americas: Foundation, Flourishing, and Survival
Mesoamerica: The History Of Central America
Classroom Companion: Dawn of the Maya
A Classical Maya News Report Lesson Plan
Couriers in the Inca Empire: Getting Your Message Across Focusing on the means
used by the Incas to send messages over long distances, this lesson plan illustrates
one of the many creative ways throughout history that humans have devised to meet
a universal need -- that of cross-country communication. The lesson introduces
students to the Inca Empire, which extended from northern Ecuador to central Chile
and from the Andes to the west coast of South America between 1200 and 1535 AD.
The Lines of Nasca Lesson Plan
COLUMBUS AND OTHER EXPLORERS
Other Worlds: The Voyage of Columbus Meet the people whose encounter with
Columbus led to the creation of a New World.
Conquistadors: Francisco Pizarro Lesson Plan
Conquistadors: Hernan Cortes Lesson Plan
Conquistadors: Inca Rebellion Lesson Plan
DAILY LIFE AND FAMILY
La Familia This unit on Spanish language and culture focuses on the family and keeps
the lessons simple and age-appropriate. Students will learn about Spanish families
and gain a preliminary knowledge of the Spanish language, learning the Spanish
names for various family members.
In My Other Life Find out what it might feel like to grow up in an Asian, African, or
Latin American country.
Latino Cultures and Communities Lesson Plans
Weddings and Traditions Lesson Plan
FOOD
The History Of Chocolate Lesson Plan
Recipe Lesson Plan
LANGUAGE
Lesson Plans for Stories Around the World
What's In a Name? Students consider the etymology of different words, including
their own names. They examine how influences from other languages, including
computer languages, find their way into English discourse.
Women Writers in Latin America
MUSIC
http://www.musicapaedia.com/lyrics.htm Songs with music and lesson plans.
PLACES
Hispanic World Unit Take an electronic field trip. Students will conduct primary and
secondary research to know the "hispanohablantes" in the world. These explorations
will serve as windows for these Spanish-speaking countries for students to acquire
information and impression from different perspectives . Students are supposed to
conduct the researches by using their Spanish ability to comprehend these
information on Internet.
Destination: Dominican Republic The culture, geography, and work of Peace Corps
Volunteers in the Dominican Republic come to life in this video. (19 min., 2000)
Destination: Honduras This video examines the issue of deforestation as well as the
contrasts between rural and urban life. Honorable Mention in both the Telly Award
and the NAGC Gold Screen Competition. (20 min., 1992)
Destination: Paraguay Here you will see the lives of young Paraguayans in both rural
and urban settings. Students see firsthand how the modern mestizo culture has
blended both Guarani and Spanish heritage. Going through a typical day, you will
learn about economic and environmental issues facing this country. (20 min., 1995)
Oaxaca Lesson Plans
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE
Cultural Notes with Audio from Study Spanish Web Site
Fidel Castro Lesson Plan
Internet Activities for Foreign Language Classes Some of these lessons relate directly
to the content of our textbook. They are also sorted by level. Scroll down to see
them all.
http://lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/k-12/#spanish Tons of links for Spanish students. A
great site to use for COUNTRY study.
New Movements For Social Justice: The Latino Struggle for Equal Rights (1950’s-1970’s)
Find a wealth of lessons and activities based on Peace Corps stories that will help
students understand peoples and cultures the world over.
Spanish Civil War Lesson Plan
Strategies for Teaching the Value of Diversity
Teaching Geography Lesson Plans Watch video on the episodes relating to Hispanic
and Latino Culture.
WEBQUESTS
How to Design A Web quest with Templates for Teachers
WebQuests
A WebQuest - A Journalist's View of Spain
A WebQuest - The Adventures of Don Quixote
A WebQuest - Chasing Carlos and Cristina Cruz
A WebQuest - Bullfighting
A WebQuest - Viva España
A WebQuest About Evaluating Web Sites
Three More Interesting WebQuests