-Locate the events, peoples, and places they have studied in time and place relative to their own.
Objective: Students will demonstrate basic understanding about schools and daily life of students in Mexico.
Lesson 1, Day 1
Activities & Procedures: 1. Students will watch a short film clip about life in Mexico. 2. As a class, students will complete a KWL chart that answers the questions: What do we know about schools in Mexico? and What do we want to know about schools in Mexico? 3. In groups of 3-4, students will analyze an example of a typical day in the life of a 4th grade student in Mexico. Students will discuss the schedule in their groups and answer a few guiding questions: How is this schedule different from your own daily schedule? 4. Closure: As a class, students will share their responses and thoughts and then complete the last section of the KWL chart (What did we learn).
Assessment: Students will be assessed on their participation during the closure activity (each student must contribute one thing that he/she learned during the class activity).
Lesson 2, Days 2-4
Activities and Procedures: 1. In groups of 3-4, students will prepare a research presentation on some sub-topic of schools in Mexico. Possible sub-topics could focus on History of Schools, What do Students Learn, or Funding/Current Issues. Students will be able to use pre-selected resources, the Internet, and the school library to gather information for the presentation. Students will have two days to conduct the research and organize their presentation.
Assessment: The presentations will be presented to the class on Day 4 and will be graded by their peers and by the instructor.
Lesson 3, Day 5
Activities and Procedures: As a class students will construct a Venn Diagram to compare the similarities and differences of schools in Mexico and schools in the U.S. Students will also be assigned an essay in which they will design and describe their ideal school. The essay should include a sample floor plan of their ideal school, and they should specify which aspects of the school are borrowed from the U.S. system or the Mexican system.
Assessment: The instructor will grade the essays based on the content and understandng the students show in their essay.