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Dear Professor and Classmates, welcome to our thematic unit on //**The Art of Flamenco.** Please see our pages to the left and enjoy our lessons on the history, "el canto", "la guitarra", and "el baile" (the song, the guitar, and the dance).//



This thematic unit is for a Spanish III high school class. Since this class is not a requirement for graduation, the students are highly motivated and very interested in the cultural aspects of the Spanish language. The purpose of this unit is to introduce the students to the genre of flamenco music, its origin and the rich cultural heritage that it encompasses. In 2010, UNESCO declared flamenco to be one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Its popularity knows no boundaries, and it is performed in concert halls all over the world. It nearly disappeared in the early 1900’s, but was resurrected in the 1930’s by a group of artists led by Federíco García Lorca.

The class will begin with a video clip of a flamenco performance which will capture the students’ interest at the onset. The lessons will have group discussions on the influences and major components of flamenco music: dance, guitar, and the singing known as “cante jondo”. The activities will also include presentations, games, and assessments designed to advance vocabulary, heighten cultural awareness, and promote participation in a guitar and dance lesson.

The students will advance their Spanish proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, listening, and speaking as they learn about Spain, the region of Andalucía, and the art of flamenco. Students will use technology to access the Internet, take an on-line quiz, learn dance steps, guitar strums, and contribute their comments to a Wiki page. In order to make the experience more authentic, the teacher will dress in a flamenco costume and show the students some of the accessories of a flamenco dancer. The teacher will bring her Spanish guitar and castanets, and the students will have an opportunity to practice what they have learned on the guitar. Students will be encouraged to share what they have learned with their friends and families and to learn more about the culture of Spain.