Classroom Activities
For the implementation of this curriculum unit, a structured delivery of lessons would work well with students at the fourth and fifth grade or intermediate grade level. There are four areas in which lessons will be carried out. They are as follows:
Day One: “Teacher” (teacher delivers lessons, examples, stories and music)
- Reading of stories and excerpts
- Content mini-lessons
- Musical excerpts
Day Two: “Social Studies” (lessons and review of specific historical aspects, maps, deep dive into musical selections and cultural studies such as genre, instrumentation, dance, etc.)
- History
- Music and Culture
- Maps and Geography
Day Three: “Student Groups” (breakout groups with student discussion of lessons, analysis of stories, response to questions, stories, poetry and musical excerpts)
- Discussion
- Sharing Out
- Line of Inquiry
- Writing/Responding Cooperatively
Day Four: “Individual Students” (students work individually on responses and analysis, poetry, memoir and other writing. Formative assessments observed)
- Writing/Responding Individually
- Creative Writing (poetry writing and response)
- Line of Inquiry
- Memoir (reading and writing)
Each block of four days will equate to one week during the unit with an additional week (week five) set aside for review, editing and revising as well as the sharing and publication of student work. Stories and music will be grouped by each area of focus such as “Cuba,” “Puerto Rico,” and “Mexico,” musical genre or the overall migrant and immigrant experience.
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