Elementary Curriculum

Proficiency Target: Novice 

In first grade, students receive Spanish instruction two times a week for 25 minutes with lessons centered on the essential question: “Who am I? How do we name things in a different language?” Students learn the Spanish language and Hispanic culture through direct instruction, stories, poems, songs, games, and activities. Students who meet expectations in first grade can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that they have practiced and memorized. The topics covered in first grade include colors, numbers, shapes, family members, weather and more. Students can recognize some familiar words and phrases from these topics when they hear them spoken or see them written. Students can also introduce themselves, say hello and goodbye, express how they are feeling, and respond to simple questions.

Proficiency Target: Novice 

In second grade, students receive Spanish instruction three times a week for 25 minutes with lessons centered on the essential question: “Who am I? Who are my neighbors?” The cultural context for second grade instruction is Mexico, our neighbor to the south, which parallels the second grade Social Studies curriculum. Students learn the Spanish language and Hispanic culture through direct instruction, stories, poems, songs, games, and activities. Students who meet expectations in second grade can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that they have practiced and memorized. The topics covered in second grade include the calendar, weather, clothing, places in the community, pets, farm animals, and more. Students can recognize some familiar words and phrases from these topics when they hear them spoken or see them written. Students can also introduce themselves, say hello and goodbye, express how they are feeling, state their likes and dislikes, and respond to simple questions.

Proficiency Target: Novice 

In third grade, students receive Spanish instruction three times a week for 25 minutes with lessons centered on the essential question: “Who am I? What do we find in our global community?” The cultural contexts for third grade instruction are Spain and China, which parallel the third grade Social Studies curriculum. Students learn the Spanish language and Hispanic culture through direct instruction, stories, poems, songs, games, and activities. Students who meet expectations in third grade can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that they have practiced and memorized. Students are also beginning to combine words and phrases to create simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. The topics covered in third grade include world geography, fruits and animals from around the world, and more. Students can recognize some familiar words, phrases and simple sentences from these topics when they hear them spoken or see them written. Students can also introduce themselves, say hello and goodbye, express how they are feeling, state additional personal information, indicate their likes and dislikes, and respond to and ask simple questions.

Proficiency Target: Novice 

In fourth grade, students receive Spanish instruction three times a week for 25 minutes with lessons centered on the essential question: “Who am I? How are we connected to the Caribbean?” The cultural context for fourth grade instruction is the Caribbean with a focus on Puerto Rico. Students learn the Spanish language and Hispanic culture through direct instruction, stories, poems, songs, games, and activities. Students who meet expectations in fourth grade can communicate on very familiar topics using a variety of words and phrases that they have practiced and memorized. Students are also becoming more comfortable combining words and phrases to create simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. The topics covered in fourth grade include the seasons around the world, sports and leisure activities, the house, and more. Students can recognize some familiar words, phrases and simple sentences from these topics when they hear them spoken or see them written. Students can also introduce themselves, say hello and goodbye, express how they are feeling, respond to and ask simple questions. 

Fifth Grade Spanish

Proficiency Target: Novice 

In fifth grade, students receive Spanish instruction three times a week for 25 minutes with lessons centered on the essential questions: “Who am I? Who are the people of the Americas?” The cultural context for fifth grade instruction is the Spanish-speaking regions of Central and South America with a focus on Peru. Students learn the Spanish language and Hispanic culture through direct instruction, stories, poems, songs, games, and activities. Students who meet expectations in fifth grade can communicate and exchange information about familiar topics using phrases and simple sentences, sometimes supported by memorized language. The topics covered in fifth grade include the geography of the Americas, descriptions of personality and physical appearance, typical food eaten in the Americas, the arpillera and more. Students can often understand words, phrases, and simple sentences related to everyday life and topics studied in class. They can also understand the main idea of short and simple texts, conversations or presentations when the topic is familiar. Students can also introduce themselves, say hello and goodbye, express how they are feeling, respond to and ask simple questions.