First grade Spanish focuses on studentsÕ strengths for learning languages orally. In first grade,

Second grade Spanish also focuses on studentsÕ strengths for learning languages orally. As second gradersÕ English reading and writing skills develop over the course of the year, they are gradually introduced to more reading and writing in Spanish. In second grade, students have binders to organize their work, homework once a week, and occasional vocabulary quizzes. After reviewing the essentials of first grade Spanish, second graders learn vocabulary for animals and adjectives, saying the date, weather, phone conversation basics, family members, emotions, and intermediate bargaining skills. In the fall, second graders learn about the Mexican holiday, El D’a de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), and take a field trip to the annual exhibit at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center. In the spring, second graders learn to identify every Spanish-speaking country on a world map before listening to the rich diversity of music throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

Now that third graders have developed stronger reading and writing skills in English, they are introduced to more reading and writing in Spanish. At the beginning of the year, third graders learn how to use a Spanish-English dictionary before checking one out from the teacher for the remainder of the year for use on homework assignments. Through translating the picture book, El osito Peluche va al zoo third graders build their vocabulary base, become skilled at looking up new words, and learn how to translate language conceptually. Specific third grade units cover zoo animals, school subjects, school vocabulary, city places, table talk, and more advanced bargaining skills. At the annual spring mercado, or market, third graders help translate for kindergarteners and English-speaking adults. At the end of the year, students identify, learn, and translate the many Spanish-language place names in the U.S. and Colorado.

Fourth graders put their Spanish-language foundation to use in a variety of real-life scenarios: they role play checking in at a doctorÕs office (answering questions about their name, address, phone number, ailment, etc.); they order food at DawsonÕs dining hall in Spanish; they order food in Spanish at a Mexican restaurant for a homework assignment; and in the spring, they sell real goods at the annual mercado, or market, to students, parents, and teachers. Proceeds from the mercado are donated to Heifer International to buy farm animals for families in rural Latin America. Fourth graders also check out dictionaries at the beginning of the year, translate texts conceptually, and improve their spelling through dictation exercises. Other fourth grade units cover numbers (1-1,000), solving math problems in Spanish, telling time, and travel phrases.

In an effort to give our Lower School students a broader conceptual foundation from which to enter language study in first grade, the kindergarten foreign language curriculum focuses on the study of World Cultures and World Languages. For each continent we visit, we seek to gain an appreciation and understanding of that continentÕs geography, languages, and cultures. Throughout the year, kindergarteners travel (virtually) around the world. Their journey starts in the United States, where students reflect on American culture, including food, music, holidays, customs, and games. Before winter break, students travel to the Caribbean Islands, South America, and then back in time to the Mayan civilization. After Winter Break, kindergarteners learn about Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa, before returning full circle back to the U.S. Through their explorations, students learn about day-to-day life in other countries through books, projects, videos, games, songs, discussions, visitors, food, and more. At the end of the year, kindergarteners take home a string of flags and a world atlas, both of which they colored and created throughout the year.