ALEX Classroom Resource

  

Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom

URL:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/lessons-and-activities/lessons/9-12/baila-latin-dance-in-the-spanish-classroom/

Content Source:

Other
The Kennedy Center
Type: Lesson/Unit Plan

Overview:

In this 9th-12th grade lesson, students will learn about traditional Latin dance styles such as salsa, mambo, merengue, rumba, cha cha, bachata, and samba. They will generate essential questions and conduct research about a particular Latin dance and its country of origin. Students will draw comparisons between the dances through presentations and dance demonstrations. While the videos are provided in English, Spanish language questions are included to facilitate target language discussion. For those wishing to incorporate the community standards, students can arrange to perform their researched dances for the school or community in an effort to bring awareness to the target culture. It is important to note that this lesson also follows national standards for dance, allowing it to connect with elective courses.

Content Standard(s):
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
5) Identify products of the target cultures.

a. Recognize arts, crafts or graphic representations of the target culture.

b. Identify the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

c. Listen to, read, and identify the products from the target culture.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Culture
Modes Of Communication:
Presentational Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify tangible products unique to the target culture.
  • list key cultural products such as paintings, songs, and dances.
  • recognize cultural products referenced in audio and written the target language recources.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the tangible products that are important to their life and culture.
  • the tangible products that are important to the target language life and culture.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • list common target language cultural products such as paintings, songs, and foods.
  • watch video clips or music videos and identify cultural products.
  • describe basic craft products from target language countries.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • list common target language cultural products such as paintings, songs, and foods.
  • watch video clips or music videos and identify cultural products.
  • describe basic craft products from target language countries.
  • investigate the relationship between cultural products and perspectives.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better.
  • understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language.

a. Use math skills to convert English measurements to metric system and to convert currencies.

b. Locate cities, states, and countries where the target language is spoken.

c. Describe weather in different locations around the world.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Modes Of Communication:
Interpretive Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify the target language speaking countries and capitals on a map.
  • use exchange rates to calculate prices within the target language culture.
  • identify geographical influences on weather patterns in the target language countries.
  • use the metric system to identify measurements within tht the target language culture.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the importance the metric system plays in measurements throughout the world.
  • that weather patterns are dependant on geographical locations.
  • currency changes from country to country and exchange rates are variable
  • where the target language is spoken.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level I
11) Identify opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment.

a. Plan real or imaginary travel.

b. Attend or view cultural events in person or virtually.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communities
Modes Of Communication:
Interpersonal, Presentational
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • participate in and plan real or imaginary travel to the target language locations.
  • recognize how to apply for a passport and complete other travel documents.
  • particpate in and explore cultural events in person or virtually.
  • recognize and evaluate tools that make real and/or virtual exploration of the target language possible.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the locations of the target language specific countries.
  • the key attractions within the target language specific countries.
  • the key celebrations within the target language specific countries.
Skills:
Students are able to:
Novice Mid Level
  • access important travel documents and safety information online.
  • use physical and online resources to identify and participate in celebrations within the target language countries.
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • access important travel documents and safety information online.
  • use online resources to evaluate hotels and attractions within target language countries.
  • use physical and online resources to identify and participate in celebrations within the target language countries.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • the target language is used around the world every day in many different contexts.
  • the target language can help one better understand the world around them.
  • the study of world languages expands one's opportunities.
  • language is a tool to connect with the world.
  • other understandings will depend on theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level II
5) Identify perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Describe products of the target culture.

b. Describe arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Describe the cultural elements found in music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and describe the products in a variety of texts.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Culture
Modes Of Communication:
Presentational Mode
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • recognize how tangible products are shaped by the perspective of a culture.
  • Explain key cultural products such as paintings, songs, dances, music, and videos.
  • Discuss why cultural products are important to a culture based on textual resources.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • a tangible or intangible product is influenced by the target language life and culture.
  • the perspective of a the target language culture is interconnected with the products of the culture.
Skills:
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • list common target language cultural products such as paintings, songs, and foods.
  • watch video clips or music videos and identify cultural products.
  • describe basic craft products from target language countries.
  • investigate the relationship between cultural products and perspectives.
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • utilize common target language cultural vocabulary to discuss paintings, songs, foods, etc.
  • investigate and explain the relationship bewtween cultural products and perspectives.
  • investigate and explain the realtion between cultural practices and perspectives.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • similarities and differences in the products of another culture often stem from the perspective of that culture.
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better.
  • understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level II
6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language, utilizing the past time frame.

a. Exchange information on patterns of behavior typical of their peer group in the target culture.

b. Examine authentic materials containing current events, social announcements, and classified ads.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • identify and describe daily life activities of their peer group in the target language culture.
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic materials.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • how their peers in the target language culture typically spend their freetime.
  • what a typical school day in the target language culture is like.
  • what kinds of media are popular among their peers in the target language culture.
Skills:
Novice High Level
Students are able to:
  • use map skills to identify countries and geographical features around the world.
  • identify resources needed to calculate exchange rates and measurments.
  • investigate other disciplines using the target language language.
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • interpret simple statistics on daily life activities of their peers in the target language culture, such as schooling, freetime activities, and social media usage.
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic sources, such as news articles, event flyers, invitations, and advertisements.
  • identify a few target language news sources and stores.
  • use the target language to learn about other disciplines.
  • use information learned in the target language in other disciplines.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level III
5) Investigate perspectives through products of the target cultures.

a. Explain the importance of products of the target culture.

b. Explain arts, crafts, or graphic representations of the target culture.

c. Explain the cultural elements of music and short video clips.

d. Listen to, read, and explain the purpose of products from a target culture.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Culture
Modes Of Communication:
Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational Modes of communication
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • explain the importance of products of the target culture.
  • analyze and describe arts, crafts and graphic representations of the target culture.
  • identify and describe cultural influences in music and video analyze the purpose of prodcuts from the target culture through
  • listening and reading activities.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • a variety of the target language specific vocabulary.
  • verb conjugations in a variety of time frames.
  • to incorporate background knowledge of cultural products studied in earlier levels.
Skills:
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • utilize common target language cultural vocabulary to discuss paintings, songs, foods, etc.
  • investigate and explain the relationship bewtween cultural products and perspectives.
  • investigate and explain the realtion between cultural practices and perspectives.
Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • identify how a culture's beliefes and ideas are reflected in their products by describing the target culture's art, crafts, music, dance, etc..
  • analyze and clarify the purpose of the products from a target culture.
  • investigate and explain the relationship bewtween cultural products and perspectives.
  • investigate and explain the realtion between cultural practices and perspectives.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • language and culture are inextricably linked together.
  • a culture's perspectives will be reflected in their pracitces and products.
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better.
  • understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level III
6) Connect with other disciplines while using the target language in a variety of time frames.

a. Compare characteristics of countries where target language is spoken.

b. Present information on topics across disciplines.

c. Describe the importance of influential figures from the target culture, past and present.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Connections
Modes Of Communication:
Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational Modes of communication
Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:
  • make comparisons of various characteristics of target language countries.
  • are able to talk about topics across disciplines.
  • identify and describe the importance of influential figures to the target culture.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • a variety of the target language specific vocabulary.
  • verb conjugations in a variety of time frames.
  • to incorporate background knowledge of target language countries, influential figures and topics from other disciplines studied in earlier levels.
Skills:
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • interpret simple statistics on daily life activities of their peers in the target language culture, such as schooling, freetime activities, and social media usage.
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic sources, such as news articles, event flyers, invitations, and advertisements.
  • identify a few target language news sources and stores.
  • use the target language to learn about other disciplines.
  • use information learned in the target language in other disciplines.
Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • identify and interpret basic information from authentic sources, such as news articles, event flyers, invitations, and advertisements.
  • identify a few target language news sources and stores.
  • use the target language to learn about other disciplines.
  • use information learned in the target language in other disciplines.
  • use the target language to make comparisons of similarities and differences in countries where target language is spoken.
  • use the target language to converse and present on a variety of topics and other disciplines.
  • use the target language to invesitgate and describe information learned in the target language.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages
WLAN (2017)
Grade: 7-12
Level III
11) Explore opportunities to use the target language beyond the classroom environment in a variety of time frames.

a. Investigate authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.

b. Explore the internet to find authentic websites on current events.

c. Plan a school event which promotes the target culture.

Unpacked Content
Goals:
Communities
Modes Of Communication:
Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational Modes of communication
Evidence Of Student Attainment:

Students:
  • find ways and opportunities to use the target language beyond the clsssroom in a variety of time fames.
  • are able to locate and analyze authentic materials to learn more about topics studied in class.
  • use the target language to explore the Internet to find authentic websites that offer current events.
  • plan a school event promoting the target culture by using the target language langauge.
Performance Descriptors:
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • the target language Vocabualry for specific purposes.
  • verb conjugations in a variety of tenses.
  • how to use the internet to find authentic resources.
  • how to analyze the target language in authentic resources.
Skills:
Intermediate Low Level
Students are able to:
  • identify opportunities to connect with native speakers in the local community and through exchange, travel abroad, or online.
  • search for, identify, and navigate websites in the target langauge to explore their interests, such as news, blogs, music, and social media.
Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • use the target language to find and analyze authentic materials and websites in a variety of tenses.
  • use the target language to find current events in the target culture.
  • use the target language to plan a school event to promote the target culture.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • language connects people.
  • they can use the target langauge inside and outside of the classroom for a variety of purposes.
  • learning another language helps you to become a better global citizen.
Tags: Beauty and Aesthetics, Communication, Communities, Connections, Culture, Dance, Perspectives, Practices, Products, Spanish
License Type: Custom Permission Type
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As posted on the printed lesson plan, reproduction is allowed for educational use.

  This resource provided by:  
Author: Chrissy Roe
Alabama State Department of Education