Puerto Rico

What is a Puerto Rican? - a lesson developed by Max ECHEVARRIA for EDU 360

LESSON TITLE: Puerto Rico and its People.
AUTHOR: Max Echevarria
SUBJECT: Social Studies and Spanish
ROLE OF TEACHER: Facilitator and Lecturer
TIME NEEDED: 1 class

TEACHER ASSUMPTIONS: It is assumed that the students who Puerto Ricans and Latin Americans are.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this lesson is to teach the student the cultural differences between the Puerto Rican people and Latin Americans. It is also geared to dispelling the notion that all people of Latin descent are Spanish and in its giving facts about the individual countries of Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to orally:
1. Be able to tell the differences between certain Latin Countries.
2. Ask questions about Puerto Ricans and Latinos.
3. Be able to determine the difference between Spanish and Puerto Rican through the words, foods, and history.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS: Students will be provided with the attached work sheet. The teacher will bring chalk and be provided with a chalkboard.

PROCEDURES:
1. Students will be asked what they think about when some one says Puerto Rican.
2. The teacher will then list and explain why the students may have those stereotypes. i.e. Willimantic…a history of the mills may be explained as to why there is a large population of Puerto Ricans in the area.
3. The teacher will then go into the Language of Spanish and how some words are different or mean different things in different countries.
4. Hollidays will then be discussed. Quinceanero and La Navidad.
5. The teacher will pass out pictures and pamphlets to show the different holidays.
6. Geography, Government of Puerto Rico will be discussed- commonwealth status, citizenship.
7. Regional differences will then lead into the different foods eaten.
8. Religion will be the final topic tying in so of the holidays and their importance to the Latin American people.

CLOSURE: the Spanish teacher and myself used this lesson in the Lebanon Middle School. He used it integrated into their unit on immigration. He allowed me to teach four classes about the Puerto Rican and Latin culture in an attempt to dispel some of the stereotypes that the students are exposed to. He has invited back in the spring. It is my hope that the lesson helped the student gain a better understanding of the Puerto Rican people and their culture.

Worksheet

I. What is a Puerto Rican?
Willimantic and History.

II. Lenguaje

Vocabulary-some words in the Spanish Language may mean a totally different thing in one country than the next.

Puerto Rico Spain United States

China Naranja* Orange (fruit)

Biscocho Pastel* Cake

Pop Corn Palomias Popcorn

Siper Cremallera Zipper

Pantalla Pendiente* Ear Rings

Enagua Viso Slip

Lazo Pajarita* Bow Tie

Carcel Jaula* Jail/Jail Cell

Sombrilla Paragua Umbrella

Pelota Beisbol Baseball

Safacon Papeleria Garbage Can

II. Puerto Rican and Latin American Holidays

Dia De Los Muertos/Day of the Dead- This holiday is celebrated throughout Latin America but most especially in Mexico on November 1st to the 2nd . The Day of the Dead is a family event to remember ancestors, whose spirits visit the earth once a year. People dress up in skeletal costumes. Most American would think that its just Holloween, but it is not. It is not meant to be a scary day but instead its meant to be a day of reflection, a chance for family to think about those family members that they have lost.

La Navidad- La Navidad (December 24 to January 6th) is a holiday that encompasses four significant days. The first being Christmas eve, the second Christmas, the third New Years, and most important Three Kings Day/Los Tres Reyes Magos. Three Kings Day is a celebration of the kings deliverance of the gift to Jesus on January 6th. The Children of Puerto Rico and all throughout Latin America celebrate this day by with songs and dancing. The night before Three Kings day, children through out Latin America leave out a box of Hay and a bowl of water underneath their beds. They do this for the Camels that the Three Kings travel on. As a thank you for providing the hay and the water the Three Kings leave gifts for the children. When the children wake up the next day they find some toys underneath their bed.

Sweet Fifteen/Quinceanero- El Quinceanero is a religious celebration that all Latin American girls wish they could have. If your family can afford it then a celebration is given for the young girls who turn fifteen. The celebration begins with a church procession in which the young girl becomes a woman by accepting the gifts offered by the church. The first gifts are the Certifacados(Certificates) of Baptism, First Communion, Penitence, and Confirmation. The second is La Medalla (the pendant) which signifies the expression of faith and the protection of the young girls patron saint. El Anillo (the ring) is the third and signifies the young girls responsibility with god. The fourth is La Corona (the Crown) represent a Christians promises. The last two are Las Flore (the flowers) and Los zapatos (the shoes), the first representing the girls new life and the other her continued life as a Christian. After the Church activities the young woman celebrates with her friends and family at a party that could go on to the next day.

III. Geography and Regional Differences
? Puerto Rico
? Cuba
? Mexico

IV. Foods
Pasteles, Rellenos, Arroz, Lechon etc.

V. Religion

Willimantic and History.