(High School Spanish Language Level I)

The student will complete a price comparison to determine the exchange rate between U.S. dollars and pesos.  The students will understand that prices in pesos seem much higher due to the fact that the peso is worth much less than the dollar.

Created by Kim Fryman, July 2007

The student gains knowledge and understanding of other cultures. The student is expected to demonstrate an understanding of the practices (what people do) and how they are related to the perspectives (how people perceive things) of the cultures studied.  TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II. (c)(2)(A)

The student uses the language to make connections with other subject areas and to acquire information. The student is expected to use resources (which may include technology) in the language and cultures being studied to gain access to information.  TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II. (c)(3)(A)

The student develops insight into the nature of language and culture by comparing the student's own language and culture to another. The student is expected to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the student's own language and the language studied;
• demonstrate an understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons to the student's own culture and the cultures studied; and
• demonstrate an understanding of the influence of one language and culture on another.                                                                                                           

TEKS §114.22. Levels I and II. (c)(e)(A, B, C)

Focus:

Ask students to name as many different currencies as they can.  Ask them if they know the current exchange rate of those currencies.  Tell the group they are about to become more familiar with the peso, as it is the currency they are most likely to exchange in the future.

Procedure:

• Give students two evenings to document the prices of two of their favorite drinks and two of their favorite snack foods from any local convenience or grocery store using the attached paper.
• The students will bring the price listings in to class.
• The teacher will show the students photos taken from Mexican stores found on the TIDES site, and they will compare the prices of their favorite snacks with similar foods in Mexico.
• The students should discover that prices seem much higher.
• The students will then access the current exchange rate via the internet; Yahoo finance is recommended, as it is easy to use and lists exchange rates on the first page of the site. After determining the exchange rate, the students will then re-price their favorite items to determine how much they will cost in pesos.
• The teacher should include the fact that there are very few currencies in Latin America that exchange comparably with the dollar.

Evaluation:

The price paper with dollar prices can be taken as a daily homework grade, and the completed price comparison can be taken as a daily class work grade.

Modification:

Struggling learners may be provided with a list of products and prices rather than finding those alone.  A peer tutor partner may be appropriate during the exchange rate activity as well.

Lately, some Texas businesses have begun accepting pesos for payment.  This has been quite controversial.  Have students research to see if the border states of Canada accept U.S. dollars.  The students should write a brief paper explaining their findings, developing an opinion on the appropriateness of accepting pesos and defending his or her opinion.  If the student wishes, she or he may submit the paper to lawmakers as an exercise in civil responsibility.

Photos of food prices in Mexico Food prices worksheet Examples of student work Internet access