IDEAS PARA LOS PROYECTOS ¡Puedes escoger!
This project is designed to allow you to pursue your interests in the Hispanic culture. While you have the freedom to choose the format and theme of the project, it must be related to Hispanic culture, include writing and oral components, AND be teacher-approved.
Evaluación del proyecto (Depending on the project, the scoring rubric might need to be modified slightly.)
GEOGRAFÍA y VIAJES
- Preparation: evidence of time spent preparing 10 points
- Information: Thorough, many details provided 15 points
- Presentation: Creativity, display, fluency, clarity, organization 15 points
- Accuracy: Grammar, spelling, punctuation 10 points
GEOGRAFÍA y VIAJES
- Make a detailed map of a Spanish-speaking country or region. It should focus on a special topic such as agricultural products, manufactured items, costumes, geography, etc. Include an explanation of the map.
- On a map of North America, find concentrations of cities or natural features with Spanish names. Make a map, include an explanation of the Spanish history of the area and translations of names.
- Write to the tourist offices of various cities in a Spanish-speaking country requesting information. Submit a copy of your letter, materials received, and a write-up explaining why you chose to write to the specific agencies.
- Decide where you would go on your ideal Spanish vacation, and present it visually (e.g., in a poster, an ad campaign to convince someone else to visit there, an “infomercial” video to be used as advertising for the area, etc.). Let your creativity be your guide for how to present what you learn.
- Pretend to be a travel agent and plan an imaginary trip through a Spanish-speaking area. Use illustrations, maps, and texts to present this itinerary to your “clients.”
- Make a poster about a famous Spanish-speaking person (artist, scientist, political/historical person, athlete). Include a biography and describe highlights of his/her career, when he/she lived, why important, etc.
- Exchange three letters with a Spanish-speaking pen pal.
- Interview someone from a Spanish-speaking country about customs, traditions, holidays, attitudes, etc. in his/her country.
- Interview a manager of a business operating in Belgium that has its home or affiliated offices in a Spanish-speaking country. Learn what is involved in doing business between the two countries. Prepare your questions in advance, record your interview, and document your findings.
- Visit an institution in Belgium that offers Spanish courses where learning other languages to use in “the real world” is the focus. Document information about registering and attending courses, details about the courses, and credits or certificates earned.
- Research a career in which command of Spanish will be useful. (See your counselor, librarian, or teacher to discuss how to research this project.)
- Research a specific Hispanic business. In your write-up, profile the company (product, location, size of work force, gross sales, etc.) Try to contact someone working for the company you select (phone, email) and see whether he or she is willing to discuss with you how Spanish is useful to employees.
- Research the use of Spanish in an overseas business or nonprofit organization (e.g., health organizations, religious organizations, etc.) by interviewing someone who has used Spanish while living and working in a Spanish-speaking country. Also include questions to your interviewee about what it was like to live there and adjust to that culture.
- Job shadow someone who uses Spanish in the workplace for two hours.
- Research and report on international management or relations university degree programs. What career opportunities will such a degree bring you? What language requirements does the program have? What is their job placement rate for graduates, etc.?
- Design a board game or class activity and include a rule booklet that explains how to play the game / do the activity. We will play the game / do the activity in class, so make sure everything is included.
- Imitate a famous Hispanic artist’s painting or style in a painting of your own creation. Include information about the artist, which highlights his or her style of art and time period (Picasso, Velazquez, Goya, Miró, Rivera, Zurbarán are just a few starters).
- Make your own reproduction of a painting by a famous Hispanic artist. Include information about the artist, which highlights his or her style of art and time period (Picasso, Velazquez, Goya, Miró, Botero are just a few starters).
- Visit an online art museum (see web resources in the Appendices) and document Hispanic artists on display, giving titles of works, and writing your reactions to them. (If you like to sketch, quick sketches of a couple of the pieces you view would make great evidence!)
- Draw a comic strip to tell about an important historical event, famous person, or cultural practice.
- Visit a local or online gallery or exhibit featuring Hispanic artists and document the art you saw there. Ideas for how to document the art include your own sketch of a piece of art which you like, videos, or photos (if you get permission from the exhibit managers before going there), a critique of what was good, bad, or interesting about the art you viewed, etc.
- If you can sew or use your hands well, sew a regional or historic Spanish costume. Document when and where the costume is from and who would wear this type of clothing. Model the costume for the class if it's full size or bring a model (doll, stuffed animal, etc.) dressed in the costume.
- Build a model of a famous building or monument in a Spanish-speaking country. Include a brief report about the monument or building. What is it called? When was it built? What was its purpose? Who had it built? What is it used for today if it has changed from its original purpose?
- Write a children’s book with illustrations and text in Spanish. The book should be based on something you have learned about Spanish culture, not American culture. (Alphabet and numbers books are not accepted.) It should be a story simple enough to tell in Spanish. (Don’t write it first in English!)
- If you like to cook or eat, consider going to a Spanish (or Guatemalan, Peruvian, Mexican, etc.) restaurant and ordering in Spanish! (Make sure someone speaks Spanish! Call to ask before you go!!) Get a signature on the menu or a business card. Document with video or photographs. Sample Spanish food you've never tasted before and write an essay about the cuisine and your experience speaking Spanish.
- Research what a typical dinner would be in a Spanish-speaking country. Make at least three courses for your family and/or friends. Document with copies of the recipes, include information about the origins and other pertinent information about the meal. You must include photos or video.
- Cook a typical main dish of a Spanish-speaking area and bring samples to class. Remember to bring utensils, napkins, etc. (You’ll bring this on a pre-arranged day and present it to the class.) Include information describing the origins, cultural aspects and other pertinent information about the dish.
- Interview a Spanish speaker about dining cuisine and customs, such as common appetizers, meals, desserts, drinks, etc. You can also provide information about how to hold utensils while eating, where to place hands while eating, what is okay to eat with fingers, etc. Include a written explanation and demonstrate certain customs to class.
- Create a Jeopardy game online with flippity.com. Click on this LINK for information and rubric.
- AUDIO/VISUAL PRESENTATION: This may take the form of a recorded video or live performance. You may create a song/music video, short play, puppet show, commercial, etc. You may have other students participate, but you must do the writing. Include a transcript.
- Try out something new! Here are some fun websites to use for a visual presentation:
- kahoot.ie: create a game for students to compete individually
- Classtools.net: create online games for review
- Voki.com: create an avatar, record your voice to bring your avatar to life
- Storybird.com: become an author of a unique book with illustrations
- Toondoo.com or pixton.com: create a comic strip
- Animoto.com: similar to a Powerpoint or Prezi, allows you to add music and animation
- kahoot.ie: create a game for students to compete individually
- Read a novel by an Hispanic author. The book can be in English or Spanish (ask Sra. Zinn if you would like to borrow a book). Include information about the author, summarize the novel, and write a personal reflection.
- Read a children’s book in Spanish. Write about the author, a plot summary or a translated version in English, and a list of new words learned (in English and Spanish).
- Read up on some aspect of Spanish culture (e.g., family, table manners, manners when visiting someone else, participating in sports, etc.), and then write a letter to a friend as though you were living in a particular Spanish-speaking culture and describing to your friend what life was like for you living there.
- Read up on an aspect of a Spanish-speaking country’s history and write a series of journal entries as though they were written by a person who had lived through them.
- Use the following websites for more ideas: