Objectives:

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the Christmas story with the song “Cristo De Palacaguina.”
   
2. Compare and contrast American and Nicaraguan Christmas traditions.
   

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Materials:

1. Student Handout: Christmas in Nicaragua
   
2. Student Handout: La Flor de Nochebuena
   
3. Supplies for Spanish 1 Activity: Prepare folders of green, red, pink, white, and yellow tissue paper, scissors glue etc…
   
4. Student Handout: Poem Project
   
5. Student Handout: Crista De Palacaguina
   
6. Audio Clip: Crista De Palacaguina (coming soon)
   

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Notes to the Teacher:

1. You may wish to provide a typical Nicaraguan Christmas treat, Bunuelos, for the students to munch. (See the attached recipe)
   
2. There is also a song from the Purisima celebration to play while the students are working. It represents the typical sound of Nicaraguan music with the many fireworks in the background that accompany any celebration.
   
3. The activities in this lesson are structured for students with various levels of Spanish. Select those activities that are most appropriate for the students in your particular classes.
   

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Activities:

1. Distribute the student handout entitled Christmas in Nicaragua.
   
   a. Direct students to take a few moments to read through the description of the holiday celebration.
   b. Ask students to compare the Nicaraguan celebration with their own. What are the similarities? What are the differences?
   c. Ask students to explain which of the unique Nicaraguan activities they find most interesting. Why?
   
   
2. At this point, select one of the following activities that is most appropriate for the students in your class.
   
   a. Spanish 1: Poinsettias
   • Distribute the student handout entitled La Flor de Nochebuena, tissue paper supplies, scissors, glue, etc.
   • Divide students into work groups and instruct them to follow the directions on the handout to create tissue paper
   poinsettias.
   b. Spanish 2: Poetry activity
   • Distribute the student handouts entitled Poem Project and Format Sheet.
   • Review the directions with the class before instructing students to begin creating their poems.
   c. Spanish 3: Cristo De Palacaquina
   • Distribute the student handout entitled Cristo De Palacaquina.
   • Direct students to underline cognates and known words.
   • Play the audio clip (Cristo De Palacaquina) and direct students to follow along by reading the stanzas on the
   handout.
   • The students will work in small groups with a portion of the song to translate for meaning.

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