We are seeking teachers to collaborate in curriculum development and implementation of lesson plans in an international learning experience between teachers and students in Mexico and the United States.

This project will support the co-creation of K-12 curricula to address the gaps that currently exist in the history that is taught about freedom destinations and the Underground Railroad. Our curricula will center the stories of liberation that led South, to Mexico, and many of its central figures (Black women, men and children) who, as Harriet Tubman did, fought to be free and assist others to freedom destinations in Mexico.

We are currently looking to identify 1-3 high school teachers in Mexico and up to three US high school ELA/history/Spanish teachers who can support the development of this learning experience and implement the pilot of this unit in spring 2024.

Qualifications:

• high school grade 11-12 ELA/social studies/Spanish teacher (middle school may work too)

• open minded constructivist style

• interested in Afro-Latino issues, especially in Mexico.

• interested in partnering in and co-creating an international curriculum development project.

• interested in gaining professional development skills, including using mapping and film making in the classroom.

• ability to attend a 3-day professional development training in the United States

• interested in partnering with a teacher and students in Mexico for an international learning experience, implementing lessons in sprin

Please email your interest to project coordinators, Dr. Maria Hammack (maria.hammack@fulbrightmail.org) and Dr. Amber Bechard (abechard@laverne.edu). Indicate your home/school location and why you are interested in participating in the project, as well as the age, grade and subject area of your classroom.

If you have previous curriculum development experience, that would be valuable, but is not necessary.

Email interest by November 14, 2023.

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How about some quick, fun activities to do with your students in the target language! Let’s start with...

Who's telling the truth?

Have them fill out a survey telling something strange they did as a child. Choose several of those answers and display them on your board or presentation.

This can be played online. Call on 4 people in the class, including the person who wrote the sentence, to read the sentence as if they wrote it.

You ask each person two questions, and they answer, acting as if they wrote it. Then the students type in the chat who they think is telling the truth, but the students wait to send until you say, "Send".

After they send, you ask each actor if they wrote the sentence to reveal the truth-teller. The actor with the most votes gets extra credit. The students who got it right get extra credit.

This is a great game to play with your upper levels, especially now with the fun Among Us game, students have to try to figure out who the imposter is! Here’s an example:

Example: When I was little, I used to hide in the kitchen cupboards.
Questions: Why did you hide in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)
or How old were you when you hid in the cupboards? (asked to all actors)

Who knows you best?

Choose a volunteer and have them select a question to answer (#1-12).

The teacher asks the question, then all of the other students guess what the interviewee's answer is.

They type it in the chat but don't send it. When the teacher says "send", they send it.

The teacher then asks the interviewee to send their answer. Everyone who gets it right gets a point.

Here are some sample questions. You can adapt them to any level, any unit:

• What are you afraid of?

• Where do you like to go on vacation?

• What is it that makes you angry?

• What are you laughing at?

• Do you prefer to cycle, ride a horse, or drive?

• What do you prefer: doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, cleaning the bathroom, or vacuuming?

• At night, do you prefer to play a game, visit a relative, watch a movie, or read?

• Who would you like to be lost with on a desert island?

• Approximately how many pairs of shoes do you have?

• Which public transport do you prefer (plane, boat, train, bus, metro, etc.)?

• What is your favorite zoo animal?

• What is your favorite holiday: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Halloween, Easter, July 4th

Scavenger Hunt:

If you're online, ask students to find something that makes people happy/sad/frustrated etc and show it to the camera. Ask students to find something hard/soft/wet/round/square etc and show it to the camera. Great for all levels and another great way to start some fun, personalized discussions!