The legend of Saint George tells the story of a brave knight who confronts and defeats a dragon threatening a kingdom, saving a princess and the people. This story embodies values such as courage, justice, and sacrifice, which have been fundamental to Spanish culture. Through this legend, we can understand the importance that Spanish society places on fighting evil, defending the common good, and protecting the most vulnerable, reflecting traditions and beliefs that have endured throughout history.
Pre-Legend Activities
Starting Point: Ask students questions.
- Do you know what a saint is according to Catholic doctrine?
- Did you know the name George? Do you know how to say that name in English?
- What strategies would you use to win a dragon?
Cultural Eye
We project the sculpture of Saint George Slaying the Dragon and analyze it according to Prown's method in a large group.
Location on the map
Comparison (Alcañiz (Teruel) 13th and 21st centuries):
- Number of inhabitants
- Architecture of the houses
- Basis of the economy and the city's inhabitants
- Comparison of photographs
"Journey through Magic Words"
Vocabulary related to the legend:
Dragon, knight, princess, kingdom, fear, bravery, spear, shield, sacrifice, fight, rescue, hero, nobility, legend, victory, fire, armor, courage, justice, salvation, tradition, symbol, battle, danger, protection, devotion.
Legend Activities
"Legend Explorers: Reading to Discover"
The legend is given to the students in the form of a story. This time, the passages are jumbled up, and the students, in pairs, have to arrange them in the correct order. Once ordered, they can highlight the details, then the main ideas, and finally, the summary with its corresponding lesson.
"Legend Explorers: What Objects Hide"
The objects associated with the legend of Saint George and the dragon enable us to understand Spanish culture from a historical, artistic, and social perspective, illustrating how this story has been represented and transmitted over time. Through sculptures, paintings, and popular celebrations, we see how the figure of Saint George has evolved from a religious myth to a cultural symbol in regions such as Aragon and Catalonia.
The most significant objects to analyze in the legend of "Saint George and the Dragon" are:
The Lance
- Represents the hero's bravery and strength
- You can analyze its form, function, symbolism, and evolution over time.
The Armor
- Symbol of protection, nobility, and the figure of the medieval knight
- Reflects social status and the ideal of chivalry
The Shield
- Defensive object, often decorated with a cross (a Christian symbol)
- Associated with faith, identity, and duty
The Dragon
- A fantastic creature that symbolizes evil, chaos, or a collective danger.
- Its physical representation can be studied as a mythical object, examining its shape, color, and symbolic characteristics.
The Crown or Princess's Attire
- Represents royalty, innocence, and the role of women in the legend.
- Allows for an analysis of the social and symbolic role of the female figure
The Horse
- A knight's means of transportation, but also a symbol of nobility, power, and mobility.
- It can be seen in medieval sculptures or illustrations.
Post-Legend Activities
"Between legends and traditions: guaranteed fun!"
- Theatrical performance of the legend
- Design proposals for how we could defeat the dragon today.
- Create a comic about the legend.
- Complete a biography of Saint George.
- A quiz will be conducted using Kahoot; we can create a variable that allows students to create their questionnaires to review content with their classmates, promoting participation and active learning.
