Mexican Mythology Lesson Plan for ESL

This lesson plan is designed to help develop reading, writing, and collaborative langauge skills in ESL students using Mexican fables and myths. This lesson plan can be used in a mainstream language arts class, a sheltered English class, or in an ESL class. It is designed around TESOL goals and language objectives and is complete with activities, strategies, materials, and assessments.

TESOL standards




Goal 2: To use English to achieve academically in all content areas




Standard 2: Students will use English to obtain, process, construct, and provide subject matter information in spoken and written form.




Content Objectives:




1.  Students will be able to identify a myth.




2.  Students will know why myths are used.




Language Objectives:




1.  Students will read myths/fables and use English to identify the characteristics of each.




2.  Students will use English to summarize information in speech and writing and present it to the class.




Activities/Procedure:




1.  Materials Needed:




a.   Myth overhead




b.  versions of myths/fables




c.   Myth worksheet




2.  Vocabulary to have students define on handout:




a.   myth: a story that reflects the customs and beliefs of a culture.




b.  moral:  relating what is right and wrong in a story




c.   fable: a story that cautions the reader or has a lesson to teach.




d.  Origin myth: why something is the way it is




e.   Mythology: a collection of myths or the study of myths




3.  Intro:




a.   “Who can tell me where chocolate comes from?” Wait for answers and short discussion.




b.  Read the myth “Chocolate”




   i.  Students will answer the following questions on their own and then discuss them as a class:




1.  Where did chocolate come from according to this story?




2.  Do believe this story? Why or why not?




3.  Why would anyone tell this story?




c.   Discussion and brainstorming (Record on the board)




   i.  What is mythology?




ii.  Why do we use it?