27 chronologically ordered questions in English to follow the film LA BAMBA which chronicles the life and music of Ritchie Valens. Film is rated R for some strong language and one scene of domestic fighting. Stars Esai Morales and Lou Diamond Philips. There are also 3 discussion questions for further follow up after the film.

Film covers what happens when ICE agents invade a meat processing plant in Postville Iowa. A true story, this film is EXCELLENT at explaining how undocumented workers are detained, deported, separated from families, how they are processed, why they come to work, and the responsibilities of the people who own businesses that benefit from their presence. Movie guide contains 26 questions in chronological order of the film, with opportunities for students to brainstorm, pair share and discuss their reactions. Runs just over an hour and is available for purchase at http://abusedthepostvilleraid.blogspot.com/ or on demand at vimeo. There are several links for follow up trailers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDG6-1zp52w&list=PL00B092D3FE38B664 if you want to track with students what happened a year later. This film works well for Social Studies class discussing immigration or Spanish class. The documentary is in English with subtitled interviews in Spanish.

24 Chronologically ordered questions that follow the movie Real Women Have Curves, a PG-13 film that deals with issues that a Mexican-American family deals with in their work and personal lives, great conversation starter for students about sweatshops, discrimination. A very light and entertaining film, full of Spanish and the capability to add English subtitles this movie is suitable for any level of high school Spanish.

A four day lesson plan for the short story EL HIJO includes: Pre-reading questions for discussion in small group, chart for drawing the story as students listen to the audio version on the cold read, activity for students to complete as they re-read the story in pairs, 2 essay prompts for students to choose for final assessment, and link to a good version of the story narrated. El Hijo is available on line for free from a variety of sources if you don't have the text, and is best for a level IV class or higher or Heritage speakers as the vocabulary is complex. Lesson takes about 4 days to complete with time in class for reading and discussion. Preview file contains a suggested plan for how to teach this story with my activities. This lesson does not contain an answer key because the students will create their own discussion, reactions, ideas and they will vary depending on how they interpreted the story.

This 40 minute video from the history channel give a reasonably unbiased view of the Aztec empire and an effort to understand their cultural practices as well as documents their conquest by Cortez and why Spain was successful in defeating the Aztec. Video works well for a sub day lesson plan or as supporting information when studying the Aztec. Video is in English, questions are chronologically ordered.

This 90 minute documentary from PBS chronicles the life and career of Frida Kahlo, explains her work and her relationship with muralist Diego Rivera. If you are teaching Mexican art to Spanish students and don't want to show "Frida" because of its R rating and evocative scenes, this film gives all the information necessary to understand Frida's life, love and works, with beautiful up close visuals of many of her greatest paintings. Movie guide contains 30 questions that follow the film and two follow up topics for class discussion or to be assigned as an essay for homework. This film works well for Level III teaching Realidades unit on Art, or AP curriculum as well as for an art or social studies class. Movie will take 2-3 days to complete, depending on if you stop to discuss questions with students ( PBS documentary is available for purchase on Amazon starting at $10 or directly from their website for $24.99)

Roy Germano PhD in poli sci visits small Mexican towns to interview people about why many people risk their lives to leave for work in the US. Germano talks with workers, farmers, spouses, families and municipal employees to discover reasons people leave and what happens to their families when they go. This compelling documentary is 55 minutes long and fits neatly in 1 class. It is an excellent companion to one of the many movies about undocumented immigrants and their journeys to the US. Most of this film is in Spanish w English subtitles and works well with any level high school Spanish or Social Studies where you have spent time discussing the immigration. This film is very well made, not rated, and has won awards at film festivals, available on Netflix or for purchase on Amazon. Movie guide contains 22 questions that follow the film. I divide students into small groups and assign each group sections to answer, then share out. Questions included in Spanish and English.

This sci-fi film released in 2012 opens your mind to what the future might look like for global labour relations between the US and Mexico. Set 50 years in the future, water is controlled by the US and rationed at high prices, workers with "nodes" in their arms work remotely from factories called Sleepdealers. Workers connect in Mexico and work in the US. The film is evocative, and sets students thinking about what the world might look like. Great film to use in conjunction with teaching the FUTURE/CONDITIONAL tenses and discuss global challenges, or technology, both AP prep themes. Recommend for any Spanish class level III or higher. Film is in Spanish and English, Movie Guide in both Spanish and English so you can use it for a variety of different levels. Takes two class periods to show film.

If your students enjoyed Under the Same Moon, this film takes the same topic to the next level. 3 stories are intertwined in Mexico, Cuba and Morocco as three children and their families deal with different consequences from the departure of loved ones to the "other side". This film brings up MANY topics of discussion about immigration, dangers of their trips and life for those left behind. Movie guide contains 30 questions in Spanish and English and 7 topics for discussion follow-up. Movie is rated PG-13. A very good film and lots to talk about afterwards with your students!

This online webquest works best for Middle school or Spanish I classes and can be completed in a class period in a computer lab or assigned as homework. Questions are in English and several different sites are provided to students to gather information and view colorful photos of this celebration. Webquest contains questions, tables, charts, compare and contrast and a terms section and takes about an hour to complete.

Students explore a wide variety of famous Hispanic Artists. Project can be completed in pairs or individually. Students reproduce one work using authentic materials and then prepare a 7 slide powerpoint presentation to discuss the life and works of their artist. This project is written in both Spanish and English versions so it is suitable for any level of language learners. I have taught it with 7th graders in Spanish I up to Seniors in Spanish IV. Project also contains a grading rubric and a list of 22 famous artists to get students started.

This short but powerful documentary Recycled Life presents the sad reality of the thousands of people who live and work in the Guatemala City Dump. Narrated by Edward James Olmos in English with interviews in Spanish of Guaejero dump workers, this film presents the sad day to day reality of the thousands of people who recycle millions of pounds of trash every day. The film will most certainly provoke discussion with students and for many serve as the first time they actually see the kind of poverty that motivates immigrants to risk their lives to come here. Movie guide contains 17-18 questions in chronological order and a couple of personal opinion/reactions. Guide is in English and Spanish. Amazing film, it will bring you to tears, while still leaving you with a sense of pride and dignity that these humble people maintain intact despite horrific circumstances.

This movie chronicles three generations of a Mexican American family living in East Los Angeles. Several themes in the film include the importance of the family unit and the cultural differences of Hispanic families, deportation of Mexican immigrants during the Great Depression, discrimination against Mexican workers,and the Pachuco gangster movement of the 50's. My students really enjoyed this film and it goes well with any unit on the family or as a mini lesson. The movie carries an R rating for strong language and one very brief partial nudity scene which could be easily edited out. There are 32 chronological questions in the movie guide. Students will enjoy identifying the cast of characters as there are many familiar faces in this film. This film is also suitable for ESL students of Hispanic origin as the story relates well to challenges faced by previous generations of Hispanic immigrants.

This popular film from the late 1980's remains a favourite with first year Spanish students. Sweet 15 explores two culturally relevant themes, the significance of the Quinceañera and the issue of granting amnesty to illegal aliens in the U.S. While the film is a little dated, the issues explored remain very relevant today and evoke some good in class discussion about becoming a citizen, illegal workers and the coming of age ritual of the quinceañera. Movie guide includes optional websites and questions for "presearch", 25 chronological movie questions and follow up questions for discussion. Best suited for first year Spanish students.

Tortilla Soup is a cute little movie that examines the relationships in a Mexican American family and intertwines the theme of food. This is an excellent film to show after finishing a unit on either food or family to show students the importance of meals and family relationships. This film is rated PG-13 and contains no bad language, only one mildy suggestive scene and overall is really enjoyable. Students will recognize many of the actors from other films and TV shows. Movie guide contains 20 questions chronologically orderd and 2 follow up themes for discussion or out of class writing. Film and questions are in English.

This lesson is designed to take students in a Spanish III or higher class through the poem Me Gustas Cuando Callas by Pablo Neruda. Activities for listening, speaking, reading and writing are combined into a lesson that involves both small group, large group and individual student work around the theme of the poem. Lesson includes comprehension questions, links for listening and tracking emphasis, guided reading/coding activities for terminology, topics for small group discussion and a rubric for grading student writing and response. Download also contains a copy of the poem in Spanish and English (for you) and a coded copy with the poetry terms marked. Lesson works best at level 3 or higher and is well suited for level IV or AP Spanish as an intro to poetry or a follow up lesson where students are already familiar with poetry terminology.

This 83 minute academy award winning documentary chronicles the journeys of children and adolescents as they risk their lives to come to the United States. Its an excellent video and students can identify with the main characters as they are all children close to their own age. A great way to open discussion about illegal immigration or just give students something to think about the hardships these people leave behind. 24 Chronologically ordered questions and 5 topics for follow up. Movie takes two days with a little time at the end of each hour for student questions and answers. Film is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Cautiva is the story of a teenage girl who suddenly learns that she is not the child of her parents, rather the daughter of disappeared activists who were murdered by the Argentine Govt during the dictatorship of the 1970's. Cristina has to figure out who she is and what she believes as she begins to unravel the mystery around her own identity. If you have always taught Desaparecidos with LA HISTORIA OFFICIAL, this is a really nice movie with a teen protagonist around the same theme. Students enjoyed the film despite the difficulty of the subject matter. This film is best suited for an upper level Spanish class who has some prior knowledge of dictatorships and the disappeared. It is an excellent launch point for further discussion around the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo and their efforts to reconnect with the children of their disappeared relatives. Movie and movie guide are both in Spanish.

This movie is excellent for Spanish IV, V or AP/IB class. It takes place in Franco's Spain and alternates between the real world of the resistance movement with its risks of fighting facism, and the magical world of Ofelia's Labyrinth. This film carries an R rating for several scences of brutal violence and may require parental permission if your students are younger than 17. Pan's Labyrinth won an Oscar for Best Foreign film and is an excellent way to introduce your students to the terrors of Franco's facism. Study Guide includes 19 chronological questions in Spanish, Temas para Pensar discussion questions and a word bank to help your students write and comprehend the film. Created by Barbara Davis

This film describes the civil war in the 1980's in El Salvador and Archbishop Romero's struggle to bring an end to the violent acts perpetrated on the Salvadoran people by the military government. The movie is excellent, carries a PG 13 rating, and is suitable for students at the Spanish II level or higher. The film is in English and could also be used in a social studies class. Starring Raul Julia in one of his last films before he died, this film evokes a lot of discussion about "disappeared/desaparecidos"and US involvement in sticky political situations. Study guide contains questions, and discussion/essay topics, secondary list of questions in Spanish for higher level/native speaker students.