Lesson Plan
Berklee College of Music

Create Your Own Afro-Latin Groove

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The backbone of Latin American music is the beat! Young musicians work on blending Afro-Latin rhythms and beat patterns before incorporating the major pentatonic, minor pentatonic, and blues scales in their own compositions.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Latin American Art

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Latin American art lessons can provide a way to explore different cultures, the lives of famous artists, and much more.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin American Film

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the Latin American film industry. In this Latin American film lesson plan, students compare Latin American films to American films as they watch segments of "Que Viva Mexico!" High schoolers research the painters...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Retratos: 2000 Years of Latin American Portraits

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore Latin American art. In this bi-lingual art history lesson, students view a vast collection of Latin American artwork to better conceptualize the depth and contributions Latin American artist have had throughout history....
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Latino Expression

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How much of your daily life is influenced by Latin American music? Take a listen—the answer may surprise you! High schoolers keep a journal to note any instances they see Latino culture represented, including the media, their school, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin America and United States Policy Today

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare the situation of Latin American immigrants with the situation of immigrants from other areas of the world. They use media to obtain information on topics of academic interest, personal interest, and intellectual interest.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geothermal Energy in Latin America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Here is a wonderful series of lessons designed to introduce learners to the variety of renewable, clean energy sources used by people all over the world. Geothermal energy is the resource focused on. This particular sources of energy...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Affirmation, Assimilation, and Acculturation: Middle School

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Latin American culture is deeply embedded in American culture as a whole. From the Latin rock scene in San Francisco to the hip-hop world of New York, Latin American artists have influenced every genre of modern music. Learn about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Arts: Visual Arts, Dance and Music

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe global cultures by listening to music and watching videos. In this Latin American dance lesson, students define merengue, salsa and other dances from the Hispanic culture while listening to Latin rhythm music. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson: Looking Closer: The Artwork of Shinique Smith

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A critical discussion regarding the nature of Shinique Smith's second-hand clothing art is the foundation for the lesson. Critical thinkers fully analyze the meaning behind her work, taking close consideration of where the clothing came...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin American Film

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers critique, discuss, and identify characters in a film about Latin America. In this Latin America lesson plan, students watch the film and discuss the film and everyday life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Studies

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Entitled American Studies, this small unit covers various topics related to the study of the United States. Learners warm up by creating a dictionary of democracy, then dive into three different lessons focused on government, famous...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin American Women: Finding New Heroes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the life and works of various Latin American women. After reading excerpts of each work, they answer comprehension questions and discuss as a class. In groups, they re-write the Equality of Rights in their own words...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spanish Drama: Latin America

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners explore Hispanic countries.  In this Hispanic culture and language lesson, students choose an Hispanic country to research.  Learners explore given websites and prepare a dramatization incorporating the facts they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Carnavals and Colonialization

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders compare and contrast different Carnavals throughout Latin America. In this Latin American lesson, 9th graders study the geography and colonial history of Latin America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Latin Culture Through Art and Literature

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders participate in a lecture on the history of Latin Americans and the role of Latin-American women writers. As a class, they read a story together and identify what lessons the narrator gained throughout the story. In...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Searching for Meanings Beneath the Surface of the Poem

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine poems from Latin America and the Caribbean. They compare different perspectives and subjects in the poems. They research Peace Corps volunteers as well.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hispanic Arts and Culture Unit: Visual Arts, Dance, and Music

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students learn about Latin American dance and rhythm in different forms and participate in dancing. For this Latin American lesson plan, students also analyze Latin American paintings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beisbol! Latino Baseball Pioneers and Legends

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore Latin America by researching the favorite past time, baseball. In this Latin culture lesson, students identify the leaders in the Latin American baseball movement such as Felipe Alou, Jose Mendze, and the great Roberto...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Murals: Historic Walls

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine Mexican history in murals. In this visual arts lesson, students research the artistic style of Mexican murals and the artists that create them. Young scholars then present their research findings to their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wages, Earning Power, Profit, and Responsibility: International Lessons

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students participate in an interactive activity to determine where their clothers were made. They examine the lives of children from Latin America who harvest crops in the fields or manufacture apparel in factories.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Driven: Shakira, Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students watch a video about the life of Latin singer/pop star, Shakira and identify the elements that make her music unique. They explore Latin music and dance and research the music and dance of a specific Latin American country.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mariachi:Intermediate Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students research the history of mariachi music. In this music instructional activity, students identify mariachi music and investigate it from its origins to the present. They compare it to country music. 
Unit Plan
Curated OER

American Literature Unit Four

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students prepare for and respond to literature selections. This package includes twelve lessons from the American Literature, Regionalism and Realism: 1865-1910 series, each covering a different reading selection. Pre-reading and...