Co-Teaching Activity: Discovering the Camino de Santiago

Using the cooperative learning technique “El Juego de Palabras” by Pere Pujolàs

This COOPERATIVE activity will help our students learn new content related to the importance of the Camino de Santiago. This activity will not only help our students learn new content but also promotes teamwork and communication skills. By engaging with the material in a fun and interactive way, students are more likely to retain the information and appreciate the historical significance of the Camino de Santiago.

Teachers: Susana González Prado and Marina Hurtado

Objectives

• To understand the historical and cultural significance of the Camino de Santiago.
• To learn about the different routes and experiences of pilgrims.
• To foster cooperative learning and teamwork among students.

Materials Needed

• Printed copies of the excerpts from the coursebook related to the Camino de Santiago.
• Index cards or small pieces of paper.
• Markers or pens.
• A large poster board or whiteboard.
• Access to the images provided in the book for visual reference.

Procedure

We will begin with a brief introduction to the Camino de Santiago, highlighting its historical importance and cultural impact as described in the book.

Here's a video to consider the wide impact of the Camino de Santiago on today's world

Show the images from the book, such as the routes of the Camino de Santiago and the Portico of Glory, to provide visual context.

Group Formation (5 minutes)

The the class will be divided into small groups of 4-5 students.

Each group will be assigned a specific aspect of the Camino de Santiago to focus on, such as the pilgrimage experience, the routes, or the social and economic changes brought by the pilgrims.

Word Game Preparation (10 minutes)

Provide each group with index cards and markers.

Ask them to write down key terms and concepts related to their assigned topic on the cards. For example, terms like “pilgrimage”, “relics”, “Camino Francés”, “Botafumeiro”, etc.

El Juego de Palabras (20 minutes)

Each group will take turns presenting their words to the class without directly saying the word. They can describe it, use synonyms, or provide examples.

The other groups will try to guess the word being described. Encourage students to use the information from the book to make educated guesses.

Discussion and Reflection: METACOGNITION (15 minutes)

After the game, facilitate a class discussion on what they learnt about the Camino de Santiago.

Ask each group to share insights or interesting facts they discovered during the activity.

Reflect on how the Camino de Santiago has influenced European culture and the exchange of ideas, as mentioned in the book.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Summarise the key points discussed and highlight the importance of cooperative learning in understanding historical content.
2. Encourage students to think about how historical events like the Camino de Santiago continue to impact modern society.