Spanish Lessons: A High School Spanish Project Idea - Magazine Article Biography

Spanish Lesson Plans for Secondary Grades 6-12
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The following Spanish class project asks students to create a biography of famous Spanish people.It was created as a general cultural project suitable for all levels of Spanish students.Beginning Spanish learners will need to research and write in English while advanced students could create the entire project using Spanish.Although originally used as a high school Spanish project, it is easily adaptable for younger students.

Spanish Project Handout for Students

You can download a printable version of this Spanish biography project handout.

For this project, I would like you to consider the many notable people who have come from a Spanish-speaking country and/or background.

Select a person of Spanish-speaking descent to research.

  • Your person may be historical or modern.
  • Your person may be famous in any field.
  • The more interesting you find your subject, the easier this project will be.

Research your selected person.

  • You must use at least four sources.
  • Keep track of your sources as you use them so you can include a bibliography with your final product.
  • You may use any combination of resources (print, online, music, TV, etc.)

Create a magazine article about your person.

  • Model your article after real magazine articles in both content and layout – it should include both written content and graphics, such as pictures, charts, and quotations.
  • Your article should be at least three pages long with at least 1.5 pages of written content.

Suggested Grading for Biography of Famous Spanish People

Content

  • Meets all requirements - 5 pts.
  • Thoroughly covers topic - 25 pts.
  • Clear organization - 10 pts.
  • Well-written - 10 pts.

Presentation

  • Presents information in an interesting manner - 5 pts.
  • Use of graphics and layout (style) - 15 pts.
  • Carefully proofread - 5 pts.

Total - 75 pts.

Handout - Suggested Topics for Spanish Class Project

You can download a printable version of this Spanish biography project topics handout.

This list is simply meant to start you thinking about the wide range of possibilities for your project. You are not required to use a person from this list.

Authors/Poets

  • Miguel de Cervantes
  • Lope de Vega
  • Miguel de Unamuno
  • Federico García Lorca
  • Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
  • Rubén Darío
  • Pablo Neruda
  • Octavio Paz
  • Jorge Luis Borges
  • Gabriel García Márquez
  • Sandra Cisneros
  • Judith Ortiz Cofer
  • Julia Alvarez
  • Gary Soto

Artists

  • Francisco Goya
  • El Greco (Doménico Theotocopulous)
  • Pablo Picasso
  • Salvador Dalí
  • Diego Rivera
  • José Clemente Orozco
  • David Alfaro Siqueiros
  • Frida Kahlo

Actors

  • Cantinflas
  • Antonio Banderas
  • Penélope Cruz
  • Salma Hayek
  • Esai Morales
  • Edward James Olmos

Athletes

  • Sammy Sosa
  • Oscar de la Hoya

Historical Figures

  • King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
  • Juan Ponce de León
  • Vasco Núñez de Balboa
  • Francisco Pizarro
  • Bartolomé de las Casas
  • Fray Junípero Serra
  • Miguel Hidalgo
  • Simón Bolívar
  • José de San Martín
  • José Martí

Political Figures

  • Francisco Franco
  • Fidel Castro
  • Juan and Evita Perón
  • King Juan Carlos

Singers/Musicians

  • Pablo Casals
  • Andrés Segovia
  • Plácido Domingo
  • Juan Carreras
  • Julio Iglesias
  • Gloria Estefan
  • Ricky Martin
  • Marc Anthony
  • Jaci Velásquez
  • Selena
  • Shakira
  • Thalía

Miscellaneous

  • Jaime Escalante
  • César Chávez and Dolores Huerta
  • Oscar Romero

Final Ideas

When this Spanish class project is complete, ask the students to share their work with the whole class or in small groups. Teachers may also want to bind the completed articles in a book so that other students can use them to learn more about the culture and history of the Spanish-speaking world.