"Stories and legends not only entertain us but also educate the soul and shape the conscience."
Hans Christian Andersen
The curriculum unit "Legends and Customs of Spain: A Bridge between Past and Present" is part of the Teaching Program for the Social Sciences subject and is interdisciplinarily related to the areas of Spanish Language, Music, and Art. Its focus is on the knowledge and understanding of Spanish legends, customs, and traditions, thus strengthening students’ sense of belonging by better understanding the origins of the social and cultural group to which Spanish-speaking students belong.
Stanford University psychologist Geoffrey Cohen believes it is essential to help students develop a sense of belonging, understood as the perception of being accepted and respected within a given environment. According to Cohen (2022), when a student doubts whether they are well-received or valued in their context, their mental energy available for learning, concentration, performance, and personal development decreases. A "sense of belonging" increases the development of social, emotional, and cultural skills, helps us understand ourselves better, promotes emotional regulation, and fosters more effective communication. To make this sense a reality, it is essential that, as teachers, we develop competent students by offering them meaningful opportunities through motivating learning situations. These experiences or situations should generate positive perceptions that contribute to strengthening students' sense of belonging, allowing them to feel valued and integrated, as well as an active part of their school, social, and cultural environments.
