Spanish Lesson Plan: El Entierro del Boquerón

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Introduce your students to the curious custom of “El Entierro del Boquerón” in Málaga, Spain, as well as a similar custom celebrated across the country during Carnival. Through engaging listening comprehension activities, your students will:

  • Understand the cultural significance of El Entierro del Boquerón in Málaga and El Entierro de la Sardina in Spain.
  • Identify how regional customs shape local identities while connecting communities to broader national traditions.
  • Compare these events with similar celebrations in their own cultures and reflect on how celebrations evolve over time.
  • Practice their Spanish listening and comprehension skills while engaging with authentic materials, including videos and song lyrics.

Activity 1: El Entierro de la Sardina

Instructions:

  1. Play the video “La fiesta popular del Entierro de la Sardina en España, ¿qué es?” de Mundo! TV for your students.
  2. Replay the video to allow students to absorb key details.
  3. Have students answer comprehension questions about the festival’s origins, locations, symbolism, and historical connections (questions 1-9 under Activity 1 on the student worksheet).
  4. Discuss their answers and the cultural significance of this tradition.

Activity 2: El Himno del Carnaval de Málaga

Instructions:

  1. Play the video “El Entierro del Boquerón. Carnaval de Málaga” by CarnavaldeMalagatv for your students.
  2. Discuss the costumes and festivities observed in the video (Question 1 under Activity 2 on the student worksheet).
  3. Replay the video and ask students to fill in the blanks in the lyrics of the Himno del Carnaval de Málaga (Activity 2 on the students worksheet)
  4. Review answers as a class and discuss the song’s themes related to Málaga’s unique Carnival traditions.

For an extended lesson, students can watch an alternative version of the Himno del Carnaval de Málaga here to explore different performances and costumes associated with the festival.

Discussion Questions

Facilitate a classroom discussion using the following prompts:

  • Why do you think the sardine and anchovy were chosen as symbols for these celebrations?
  • What role do humor and satire play in the celebrations?
  • Encourage your students to compare El Entierro de la Sardina and El Entierro del Boquerón with similar traditions in their own cultures.
  • How do regional celebrations shape local identity? How do they unite communities?
  • What are some examples of celebrations or traditions where you live that vary between regions/cities? How do traditions evolve over time and space?

Take it a step further…

Take your students to see “El Entierro del Boquerón” in person, check out our special offer for Spanish teachers:

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