This project is meant to enable students to better analyze Diego Rivera's mural Sueño de una tarde dominical en la Alameda Central. The mural depicts many historical figures that have made an impact on Mexico's history from its conquest to the 20th century. While the VFE includes the background of many historical figures, I recommend that Spanish teachers with intermediate-advanced students plan for which time period or specific historical figures they would like to introduce students. That way, teachers can direct students to click to identify the historical figures of the target historical figure/time period. For Día de Muertos, I recommend having students find La Llorona y José Guadalupe Posada to analyze why they are at the center of the mural (e.g., discuss death as the "great equalizer" as the mural highlights the divide between social classes). I also created a version of El Juego Injusto to introduce students to certain figures in the mural.

Video & Recommended Learning objectives:

• Utilize art to analyze different stages of Mexico's history (choose 1 aspect to focus and expand on on -- not meant to all be done in one day)

• Analyze Diego Rivera's imagery (las manos ensangrentadas, vestimiento de la Catrina, la representación de la división de clases sociales)

• Create an analysis or review of an artwork

  • This could be the class example or students could focus on different aspects using sentence starters

    • Introduction: Painter/Title/Date of creation/location

    • Body paragraphs: visual + symbolism (alternatively, describe what you see & analyze the symbolism in the next paragraphs)

    • Conclusion: Overall message, feelings or ideas you want people to take away from the art piece