In Notre Dame's media center today, students in the upper division's AP/IB Spanish class taught by Kim Anderson were researching their upcoming play in Spanish, one of their final projects for the semester. Today they viewed the movie version of the play on the media center's big screen.
According to Anderson, the students read the play together and then also watch segments of it in class.
"I have found that watching the original movie in Spanish on the big screen keeps my class more engaged," she said. "They also like the auditorium feel of the media center with the stadium seats turned into a horseshoe shape. We also act out scenes as if we were in a real stage theater."
The play is "En la Ardiente Oscuridad" (In the Burning Darkness), which is about a group of students at a blind school in Madrid.
"Our NDP students can easily related to the characters because they usually have a friend who has similar characteristics," Anderson added. "And there's lots of drama, so the kids tend to enjoy the play."
Anderson also said her students use visual thinking strategies to create their final project of the semester: a character analysis, which is presented during the final exam.
Spanish literature is a required component of the higher level Spanish B of the IB Diploma Program. The AP students may also see passages from Spanish literature on their May AP exam, so both sets of students benefit from reading the play and watching the movie.
More on Notre Dame's IB curriculum is here.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.