NEW Latin Folktales & Magical Realism Unit (Allende, Esquivel, Márquez)

In this fantastic Latin Folktales and Magical Realism unit, you will study characteristics of Latin folktales, analyze Latin cautionary folktales (El Silbón, El Sombrerón, La Llorona, La Siguanaba) and Latin animal folktales (Boitatá, El Cóndor y El Colibri, El Zorro, Jukumari), then explore genre elements of Magical Realism, and identify elements of Latin folktales and Magical Realism in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Gabriel García Márquez, short story), Like Water for Chocolate (Laura Esquivel, excerpt), and Two Words (Isabel Allende, short story).

On your literary journey, you will travel to the following countries:

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela

Texts you will explore:

Latin Folktales: Boitatá, El Cóndor y El Colibri, El Silbón, El Sombrerón, El Zorro, Jukumari, La Llorona, La Siguanaba

Magical Realism: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (Gabriel García Márquez, short story), Like Water for Chocolate (Laure Esquivel, excerpt), and Two Words (Isabel Allende, short story)

Nonfiction: Chasing the Chupacabra (legend & science behind it), Magic in Service of Truth (Salman Rushdie, essay)

If you're pressed for time and can't complete all tasks and activities, you can choose to adjust by omitting certain lessons and materials. The test is provided as a DOC file, so that you can make modifications as needed.

This resource includes complete lessons, worksheets with keys, texts, assessments, reading comprehension and discussion questions, and many useful links to online resources.

This unit is for high school and advanced middle school students.

Teach Latin folktales and Magical Realism during Hispanic Heritage Month or anytime of the year!

All worksheets have been turned into Easel activities that your students can complete and submit online. Please see below for more information on Easel.

Part 1: Frontloading – Latin Folktales and Latin America

Introduction to terms and characteristics of Latin folktales; introduction to Latin America; includes Latin folktales key elements handout, Latin America map worksheet and key, discussion questions, Geography of Latin America YouTube clip

Part 2: Latin Folktales – Cautionary Tales

Analyze El Silbón, El Sombrerón, La Llorona, and La Siguanaba; includes one text and one worksheet with key per folktale, reading comprehension and discussion questions, Victor and Valentino - La Llorona YouTube clip

Part 3: Latin Folktales – Animal Tales & Nonfiction Text “Chasing the Chupacabra”

Analyze Boitatá, El Cóndor y El Colibri, El Zorro, and Jukumari, includes one text and one worksheet with key per folktale, nonfiction text “Chasing the Chupacabra” and worksheet with key; reading comprehension and discussion questions, South America's Bear and El Cóndor Pasa YouTube clips

Part 4: Paper Bag Project – My Folktale Presentation

Students choose and present a folktale using visual aids and a paper bag as a canvas (alternatively a poster); includes worksheet and grading rubric

Part 5: Frontloading – Magical Realism Genre Elements & Essay by Salman Rushdie

Introduction to terms and genre characteristics of Magical Realism; includes key elements handout, excerpt from Rushdie’s essay “Magic in Service of Truth” about Magical Realism and Gabriel García Márquez’s legacy, worksheet with key, reading comprehension and discussion questions, Magical Realism YouTube clip

Part 6: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, Gabriel García Márquez

Analyze a short story by Gabriel García Márquez; includes text and worksheet with key, sticky notes activity, reading comprehension and discussion questions, analysis of Latin folktales and Magical Realism genre elements

Part 7: Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel

Analyze an excerpt from “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel; includes text and worksheet with key, dialogue journal activity, reading comprehension and discussion questions, analysis of Latin folktales and Magical Realism genre elements

Part 8: Two Words, Isabel Allende

Analyze a short story by Isabel Allende; includes text and worksheet with key, kind words activity, reading comprehension and discussion questions, analysis of Latin folktales and Magical Realism genre elements

Part 9: Assessments

Essay: Worksheet with 7 essay prompts (Latin folktales and Magical Realism)

Respond to the Text: Worksheet with 12 creative writing and research prompts

Unit Test: Based on folktales and literary works read in the unit: multiple-choice and short answer questions, students analyze “La Lechuza” and an excerpt from The House of the Spirits; includes texts and test paper with key (doc file so that you can make modifications)

Review Bingo: Game to prepare for test; includes printable bingo cards and term tickets

Assessment: Students add names of folktales to map and answer multiple-choice questions on folktales, includes key (PDF) or assign online as self-grading Easel activity.

EASEL BY Teachers Pay Teachers – Assign Online

You can assign texts and worksheets from this resource online using Easel in one of three ways:

(1) Through Google Classroom,

(2) By generating a unique URL and pasting it into the learning management system (LMS) of your choice, or

(3) By emailing the URL to your students.

Your students will get a code that allows them to complete the activity and turn it in to you for review — all online.

Click here for more information on how to use Easel: https://blog.teacherspayteachers.com/how-to-use-easel-by-tpt/

Thank you so much and enjoy,

Charlotte

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