Mi Barrio: An Afro-Latino
Community Landscape
Ebenezer ConcepciónNEH Summer Institute 2011
Latino Identity in New York CityJuly 29, 2011
AimAim Students will be able to create their own Afro-Latino
community landscape based on their knowledge of their own and of Latino neighborhoods in Washington, D.C.
Student Group: 7th & 8th Grade
Lesson Length: Two 50-minute classes
StandardsStandards• Cultures - Standard 2.2: Students demonstrate an
understanding of the relationship between the products and perspectives of the culture studied.
• Connections - Standard 3.1: Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the foreign language.
• Comparisons - Standard 4.2: Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.
Essential QuestionsEssential Questions Why and how do people create
communities/neighborhoods?
What makes a community/neighborhood unique?
How does public space identify a living community/neighborhood?
If a first-time visitor were to visit your community/neighborhood what would you show them?
Lesson Warm-UpLesson Warm-Up Students will write on a piece of paper the names of
African-American communities or neighborhoods where African-Americans live in the DC area.
Students will write on a piece of paper the names of Latino communities or neighborhoods where Latinos live in the DC area.
Based on their responses, they will be placed in groups of 4, matching them as best as possible according to their African-American and Latino communities/neighborhoods.
MotivationMotivation Motivation: Who is responsible for naming street
names/landmarks? Students discuss reasons within their group.
Students will be shown a few pictures of the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington, D.C. and the names of its streets and landmarks.
Columbia HeightsColumbia Heights
Columbia Heights Columbia Heights (Intro)(Intro)
Students will be shown a Google Maps view of Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C. and asked what they see. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Latino%20washington
%20dc&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&oe=utf8&um=1&hl=en&biw=1155&bih=843&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il
Students will identify street names and landmarks. A blank Google Map of Columbia Heights will be reproduced so
that students can write their own street names. They will go up one-by-one and write the names of streets and landmarks.
ReadingReading
VocabularioVocabulario
Day 1 Day 1 Summary/ClosingSummary/Closing
Why are the street names in Columbia Heights, Washington, D.C. not Latino or African-American names? Pair share – Discuss three reasons why
Gathering InformationGathering Information Students will go down to the computer lab and explore
the street names and landmarks of a Latino neighborhood. Students will choose one neighborhood. Students will become familiar with street names and
landmarks. Students will do research on at least two street names and
two landmarks. Write notes on the historical and social significance of
chosen street names and landmarks. Have images for each street and landmark.
Blueprint BrainstormBlueprint Brainstorm Students will think about and write two reasons why the
Latino community you on which you researched in Washington, D.C., such as Columbia Heights, and why the street names or landmarks do or do not reflect a Latino presence.
Students will think about why or why not the street names and landmarks in your neighborhood reflect an African-American presence.
Learning ActivityLearning Activity Students will create a blueprint, landscape sketch, and/or
Google Map of an Afro-Latino neighborhood. Include the street names and landmarks from the Latino
neighborhood on which you researched.
Blueprint GuidelinesBlueprint Guidelines Blueprint or landscape sketch should show 4-6 blocks of
your neighborhood.
Blueprint/sketch should have at least 6-8 community and commercial buildings per block, which can be repeated. They should reflect historical, social, and political, and community trends of the people in the neighborhood.
Day 2 Day 2 Summary/ClosingSummary/Closing
Students turn in their final blueprints/sketches/maps for presentation later in the week. They have to talk about the reason why they chose the
names/labels for two streets and two landmarks.
Extension ActivitiesExtension Activities Field trip to Latin American Youth Center in Columbia
Heights, Washington, D.C. Students will meet the Director of the program to learn about
the history of Latinos in Washington, D.C. during the Civil Rights Movement.
Students will partake in workshops related to Latino social and community development in Washington, D.C.
SourcesSources Images of Columbia Heights :
DMVFollowers. “Two People Murdered in Columbia Heights.” 9 Jul 2011. 28 Jul 2011 <http://dmvfollowers.com/2011/07/09/two-people-murdered-in-columbia-heights-news/>.
DC Condo Loft, Inc. “Columbia Heights.” 8 Mar 2011. 28 Jul 2011 <http://www.dccondoloft.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/columbia_heights.jpg>.
BlockShopperLLC. “3808 13th St NW Washington-Columbia Heights, D.C. 20011.” 28 Jul 2011 <http://www.google.com/imgres?q=columbia+heights+washington+dc&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&tbm=isch&tbnid=5X4AkmcQ7B9v4M:&imgrefurl=http://dc.blockshopper.com/property/28250148/3808_13th_street_nw&docid=9q_ddO2OvXJ6JM&w=200&h=150&ei=c4sxTsSNCIjYgQfIyrHxDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=926&vpy=303&dur=2593&hovh=120&hovw=160&tx=79&ty=81&page=5&tbnh=120&tbnw=160&start=91&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:16,s:91&biw=1374&bih=842>.