School life in Ecuador (1), The Otavalo market (2), thematic units - SP Intermediate. 1

Two units about Ecuador. Please preview.

Unit 1. El colegio

This unit is a very popular because many schools include school life in their curriculum. Students discover the similarities and differences between their own school and schools in Ecuador. Comparing leads to thoughtful responses. Review and extend school vocabulary (classroom, courses, after school programs). Have the students discover how the same building houses two schools, one in the morning, the second in the afternoon.

Unit includes:

1. Subject matter: school

2. Vocabulary: school

3. Grammar: ordinal numbers

4. Oral practice: compare two schools

5. Homework: create a school pamphlet; create a school emblem

6. Internet: key words for more web searches on topic and related topics

7. Model tests

8. Teacher’s guide

9. Answer key

Unit 2. El mercado de Otavalo

Indoor and outdoor markets. What do they sell? Do you or don’t you bargain? And if you do, are there rules to follow so you are always respectful of other cultures? Here is a guide to bargaining, how, when and how much.

Unit includes:

1. Subject matter: market

2. Vocabulary: market

3. Grammar: ser / estar

4. Oral practice: describe a photograph of the market

5. Homework: good manners / bargaining

6. Internet: key words for more web searches on topic and related topics

7. Model tests

8. Teacher’s guide

9. Answer key

If you have gone to the Otavalo market, please share in the comments section below. My personal experience was fun but I am not a great shopper so I preferred the Mitad del Mundo. It appealed to my imagination to stand with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other foot in the southern hemisphere.