La Catrina

10 Twenty-Minute Programs
Grade Level: 6-12
Curriculum Area: Foreign Language: Spanish Language

Designed to teach Spanish language and Hispanic culture by means of a dramatic storyline, the plot centers on a young Mexican-American student, Jamie González, whose family originally came from Querétaro, Mexico. Jamie's innocent inquiry into the fate of a great-grandmother, "La Catrina", envelopes her in an unexpected mystery.

Each program consists of three parts: introduction, dramatic core, and pedagogical segment to reinforce the content of each program.

Teacher Guide:  PDF file 52 pages includes transcripts in Spanish and  student activity sheets

Program Descriptions:

1.  La Llegada A México  (19:34)
Jamie Gonzalez and Phil Armstrong, two students from an L. A. high school, arrive in Queretaro, Mexico to spend the summer. Jamie wants to improve her spanish, but she also wants to learn what happened to her great-grandmother, who disappeared during the Mexican Revolution. A mistake was made in placing Jamie with a family: the Mexican Committee thought she was a male and the result is embarrassing.

2.  ¿Quién Es La Catrina? (19:18)
Jamie's arrival is of keen interest to a number of people, especially to Carlos Navarro. A local landowner, Demetrio Aguilar, has a much less friendly interest in her.

3.  De Compras en San Migues   (19:22)
Jamie, Carlos, Phil and Maria go to beautiful San Miguel, but are being watched by Aguilar and his henchmen.

4.  La Prima de Puerto Rico  (19:08)
Phil claims he can't swim but gets some help from Maria. Carlos makes a move, and the local librarian promises to help unravel the mystery of La Catrina.

5.  Felipe Y María:  ¿Qué Pasa? (19:26)
Jamie and friends leave a big party to go see Carlos, who had to work at the family restaurant. Carlos is thrilled when Jamie comes into the kitchen.

6.  Un Joven de Bolivia    (19:31)
Phil and Maria have a date. A mother writes to the environmental center where Carlos works asking for help against Aguilar's use of pesticides.

7.  Jamie Y Carlos: Una Discusión   (19:23)
Carlos and Jamie go shopping for fruits and vegetables and end up finding the source of contamination.

8.  Demetrio Lo Explica Todo  (19:11)
Carlos gets angry at Phil but doesn't know why. La Catrina's will is now a big issue.

9.  En La Capital  (19:12)
First Jamie and Carlos talk to a lawyer about the legality of her great-grandmother's will, then they go to the zoo and the amusement park in Chapultepec Park.

10. El Juez Decide: Una Gran Sorpresa  (19:26)
The judge rules on the Catrina will. A terrific farewell to the U. S. students with some promise for the future.