Today, as we continue our discovery of Solstice-timed celebrations, we’re going to explore the tradition of Las Posadas, a beautiful celebration from Mexico that honors the journey of Mary and Joseph searching for shelter.
Through this theme, we’ll connect culture with learning by solving real-world math problems inspired by the festivities and practicing reading and writing skills to share the story of Las Posadas.
We’ll look at the food, decorations, and symbols of this tradition to inspire our activities. Let’s dive into this vibrant holiday and see how math and language can help us understand and celebrate it!
Today’s Agenda:
- We’ll take a look at equivalent fractions in the real world
- We’ll make a treat inspired by Las Posadas.
- We’ll watch an introduction to Las Posadas before reading about the holiday.
- We’ll use what we’ve learned to inspire our own Papel Picado (Cut Paper)
What is Las Posadas?
Let’s look at how it’s celebrated in this country:
Math Objective for the Day:
Students will practice working with equivalent fractions, solving real-world math problems involving addition, subtraction, and rational numbers. The lesson culminates in making a churro-flavored mug cake as a hands-on activity that reinforces the math concepts.
Standards Addressed:
- CCSS.Math.Practice.MP1: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
- CCSS.Math.Practice.MP2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
- CCSS.7.NS.A.1: Apply and extend previous understandings of addition and subtraction to add and subtract rational numbers.
- CCSS.7.NS.A.3: Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations with rational numbers.
ELA Objective for the Day:
Students will read a short passage about Las Posadas, practice comprehension skills by answering questions, and engage in a creative response inspired by the tradition.
Standards Addressed:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and make logical inferences; cite textual evidence.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development.