México: Independence (1), The metro (2), Street vendors (3) -Thematic units for SP Beginners 1

Three interdisciplinary CULTURE units for beginners. Short, no more than seven or eight pages each. Entirely in the target language. Please preview.

Unit 1. La independencia de México

Miguel Hidalgo declared Mexico’s independence from Spain from the steps of a church in a little town. Have your students practice right, left and center by finding the stores and restaurants in that same town today. Practice the vocabulary of the house with Miguel Hidalgo’s home. Compare Mexico’s independence to your own country. There are many comparisons that can be made: dates, bells, heroes and more.

Unit includes:

1. Subject matter: independence

2. Vocabulary: city and buildings

3. Grammar: prepositions of place

4. Oral practice: independence

5. Homework: draw a map

6. Internet: Key word list to facilitate a search

7. Answer key

Unit 2. El metro de la Ciudad de México

Take the metro and the bus! Learn the vocabulary of transportation. Do some simple arithmetic to figure out the number of metro riders in Mexico City by car, by day and by hour. Attractive pictures make you feel like you are there.

Unit includes:

1. Subject matter: transportation

2. Vocabulary: transportation

3. Grammar: articles

4. Oral practice: transportation

5. Homework: transportation I use

6. Internet: Key word list to facilitate a search

7. Answer key

Unit 3. Los ambulantes

Visitors to Latin America are always surprised by the number of street vendors. Why are there so many? What do they sell? Practice the vocabulary of clothing. Most importantly, compare to your own reality and show respect of other cultures. This is fundamental.

Unit includes:

1. Subject matter: street vendors

2. Vocabulary: clothing

3. Grammar: singular and plural

4. Oral practice: street vendors

5. Homework: describe a picture

6. Internet: Key word list to facilitate a search

7. Answer key.

Have you ever visited the town called Dolores Hidalgo? It looks like a set for a Mexican tourist advertisement. It is about half way between Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende and sometimes people tend to just drive by. If you are traveling there, please stop. The square is marvelous. And if you have been and liked it as much as I did, please leave a comment below.