Unit Title: La Quinceañera : A Latinas Rite of Passage
Name: Rosanne Fitopoulos
Grade: 8
Discipline: Spanish
Purpose: The purpose of this culture unit is for eighth grade Spanish students to learn about the Quinceanera celebration. Students will explore the origins of this celebration and the different components of a modern day Quinceanera. Special attention will be given to its importance as a rite of passage for Latinas. Students will be able to compare a Quinceanera with the American celebration of Sweet 16.
Description: Students will demonstrate understanding of the Quinceanera celebration through research and a variety of activities culminating with a group PowerPoint presentation. They will reinforce their skills with grammatical concepts such as writing the date, time, address and telephone numbers in Spanish by creating a party invitation. The invitation will be created using Microsoft Publisher and digital cameras. Through internet research, students will learn about the different aspects of a Quinceanera such as traditions, music, food and party planning. Using Inspiration, they will compare and contrast a Quinceanera with Sweet 16.
Activities:
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Activity |
Standard (Use text not codes) |
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What are the origins of La Quinceañera?
1) As a homework assignment, the students will read La Quinceañera as a Rite of Passage and answer question about what they read. (In English)
2) Discuss the article in class the next day. |
4.10 Identify distinctive aspects of the target culture presented in print, literature, visual arts, films, and videos, and relate these to the cultural perspectives of the target culture
Homework assignment 25 minutes Independent
Class discussion 25 minutes Whole Class
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What are the components of a Quinceañera celebration?
1) Powerpoint presentation created by teacher
2) Homework: Read La Quinceañera and
Answer the questions in Spanish. (From texbook En espanol 1A ) |
4.3 Identify distinctive cultural aspects of the target culture presented in stories, dramas, films, and photographs
15 minutes teacher presentation to the whole class
Homework assignment- individual approx 15-20 minutes |
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What to you need to do to plan a Quincenera party?
1) Make an Invitation to a Quinceanera.
2) Individual internet research
3) Small group -- Creation of a PowerPoint presentation on a Quinceanera celebration which incorporates all individual research
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3.6 Present information in a brief report*
3.9 Write greeting cards, notes, letters, and e-mails
3.11 Give presentations on planned activities or on cultural topics
4.4 Identify distinctive cultural products from the target culture such as toys, clothes, foods, currencies, games, traditional crafts, and musical instruments
4.10 Identify distinctive aspects of the target culture presented in print, literature, visual arts, films, and videos, and relate these to the cultural perspectives of the target culture
Rough draft of invitation will be completed for homework. The invitation will be completed in the computer lab using digital cameras or scanners and Microsoft Publisher.
Research will be completed in small groups Each member of the group will be a assigned a task to complete for the fiesta (such as music, invitations, food, etc.)
One class period (45 min.) in Media Center for internet research. Specific web sites will be provided to each student by category.
Two class periods (90 min.) in class to work on presentation. |
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How is Quinceanera different from Sweet 16?
1) Venn Diagram (Inspiration) |
6.2 Describe patterns of behavior of the target culture, such as celebrations, and compare/contrast them with those of their own culture
Homework Assignment: Complete Venn Diagram created by teacher using Inspiration
20 minutes
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Why is the Quinceanera such an important part of the Hispanic culture ?
1) Show film Sweet 15 as a conclusion to the unit
2) Class discussion |
5.5 Compare, contrast, and exchange views on an aspect of the target language
6.2 Describe patterns of behavior of the target culture, such as celebrations, and compare/contrast them with those of their own culture
3 Class periods
Whole Group Instruction |
Tools and Resources:
- Print version of the web site History of the Quinceanera as a Rite of Passage http://latino.sscnet.ucla.edu/research/folklore/quinceaneras/aqlitrep.htm and worksheet with questions created by the teacher
- Powerpoint presentation
- Textbook En espanol 1A Reading La Quinceanera p. 17-18
- Film: Sweet 15
- Inspiration
- Microsoft Publisher
- Digital Cameras
- Scanner
- Internet: Web Sites for group research will include but not be limited to:
History: http://www.hispaniconline.com/magazine/1999/nov/FromTheEditor/sweet.html
http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/Article_Detail.asp?Article_ID=726
http://www.cincodemayo.net/quinceanera/english/
http://clnet.ucr.edu/research/folklore/quinceaneras/
Musica http://elmariachi.com/
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/guadalajara/marhis.html
http://www.ifccsa.org/whatmari.html
Comida: http://www.inside-mexico.com/cocina.htm
http://www.tabasco.com/html/taste_cincoday.html
Party Planning: http://www.plannersguide.com/quinceanera.htm
http://www.quinceanera-boutique.com/quinceaneratradition.htm
http://quinceanera.invitations4less.com/
Assessment: Each activity will be graded separately, and then points will be totaled to come up with a final grade for the whole unit. Point values will vary depending on the type of assignment and its difficulty level. The homework assignments will be graded on accuracy and completion, while the other components of the unit will be graded using rubrics.
References:
Gahalla, E., et al. (2000). En espanol 1A. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell Company.
Garcia, K. (November 1999). Sweet 15: A financial affair. Hispanic Magazine, Retrieved
October 1, 2002, from http://www.hispaniconline.com/magazine/1999/nov/FromTheEditor/sweet.html
Hochberg. V. (Director). (1990). Sweet 15. [Motion Picture]. United States: Gahdar &
Associates.
Hoyt-Goldsmith, D. (2002). Celebrating a quinceanera: A Latinas 15th birthday
celebration. New York: Holiday House.
Hoyt Palfrey, D. (1997). La quinceañera: An hispanic celebration of budding wowanhood.
Retrieved October 1, 2002, from
http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/travel/dpalfrey/dpquince.html
Massachusetts Department of Education. (2002). Massachusetts state frameworks.
Retrieved October 10, 2002, from http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks
November, Alan. (2001). Empowering students with technology. Arlington Heights, IL: Skylight Training and Publishing Inc.
Serrato,A. (No Date). Anas quinceanera web page. Retrieved October 5, 2002 from
http://clnet.ucr.edu/research/folklore/quinceaneras/
Wiggins, Grant, & McTighe, Jay. (1998). Understanding by design. Retrieved August 10,
2002, from http://www.ascd.org/readingroom/books/wiggins98book.html 
