Videoconference Project: XOCOLATL: Etimology of Words

This project was created as an assignment in Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections, an online class offered by Berrien RESA and taught by Janine Lim.

Topic: Etimology of words

Possible dates/times: May 2006 11:00 a.m. EDT

Standards: Academic content standards for kindergarten through grade twelve, adopted by the California State Board of Education.

  • Grades Eleven & Twelve
  • English-language Arts Content Standards
  • Reading
    • 1.0 Word Analysis, Fluency, and Systematic Vocabulary Development
    • Students apply their knowledge of word origins to determine the meaning of new words encountered in reading materials and use those words accurately.
    • 3.0 Literary Response and Analysis
    • Students read and respond to historically or culturally significant works of literature that reflect and enhance their studies of history and social science. They conduct in-depth analyses of recurrent themes
  • Writing
    • 2.6 Deliver multimedia presentations
      • a. Combine text, images, and sound and draw information from many sources (e.g., television broadcasts, videos, films, newspapers, magazines, CD-ROMs, the Internet, electronic media-generated images).
      • b. Select an appropriate medium for each element of the presentation.
      • c. Use the selected media skillfully, editing appropriately and monitoring for quality.
      • d. Test the audience's response and revise the presentation accordingly.
  • Listening and Speaking
    • 1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies
    • Students formulate adroit judgments about oral communication. They deliver focused and coherent presentations that convey clear and distinct perspectives and demonstrate solid reasoning. They use gestures, tone, and vocabulary tailored to the audience and purpose.
  • Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication
    • 1.4 Use rhetorical questions, parallel structure, concrete images, figurative language, characterization, irony, and dialogue to achieve clarity, force, and aesthetic effect.

Learner Outcomes:

  • Learners will identify the origin of words used in recipes that call for chocolate as the main ingredient
  • Learners will construct a wikibook, using hyperlinks from words to meanings and pictures
  • Learners will demonstrate their ability to follow a recipe
  • Learners will develop their presentation skills

Methods and Activities:

  • Students will read "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel, in their English Class.
  • Roundtables will be formed so students discuss different topics presented throughout the book:
    • Family relations
    • Cultural expressions
    • Traditional medicine
    • Plot, Conflict, Theme, Characters,
    • Author's style
  • Class will be divided in two groups, one will watch "Las Mujeres Arriba (Women on Top"), the other half will watch the movie adaptation of "Como agua para chocolate" (Like water for Chocolate). They will discuss the importance of food in both movies.
  • Students will bring recipes that call for chocolate as the main ingredient and will choose three.
  • Students will start a wikibook with these recipes (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Mexico , http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Paella ) and share it with their partner school.
  • Students will choose one recipe and prepare a cooking show for their partner school.
  • Students will cook this recipe and present it in the Videoconferencing Facility to their partner school.

Materials:

  • Book "Like water for Chocolate"
  • Internet resources (on line dictionary)
  • Dictionary
  • Wiki software (www.moodle.org )
  • Recipes
  • Ingredients needed for chosen recipe

Teacher/Educator making request: Gabriela Alpirez , Guatemala
Target class/group with which I'm seeking to partner: Latin America Literature
Number of students we're seeking: 25
Grade(s)of students we?re seeking: Grades Eleven, Twelve
Seeking students in this geographic area: Anywhere

Project dates and times:
For the Videoconferencing, culminating activity of this project, last week of May or first week of June (end of the school year) 60 minutes each group of students (two sessions)

Summary: Students will present a cooking show that calls for Chocolate as the main ingredient. They will get their inspiration from "Like Water for Chocolate" and "Women on Top"

Details: It is important that students are careful with the equipment in the Videoconferencing room. Leaving it spotless should be part of their grading rubric.

Schedule of project:
Week 1: Reading of Laura Esquivel's novel
Week 2: Discussion of book, watching a movie
Week 3: Sharing of recipes and creation of the wikibook
Week 4: Choosing recipe and preparing the show
Week 5: Videoconferencing with partner school

Technology needed: H.320, H.323, ISDN, bridge connection, Polycom