SPANISH The goal of the Spanish program at the Elementary School is to provide students with meaningful and contextually rich opportunities within which to hear and use Spanish. Students become familiar with the sounds of the language, developing Spanish pronunciation at a time in their lives when self-consciousness is minimal and auditory acuity is high. When students work with the Spanish specialist the emphasis is on conversational Spanish rather than formal grammar instruction. Instruction is based primarily on the "Silent Way" method of teaching foreign language. This method combines the aural, visual, and tactile approaches to learning, allowing children to express themselves naturally in Spanish. Games, songs, stories, and exposure to customs and culture also play a large role in the learning experience. Students at the Elementary School are not expected to become fluent in Spanish, however they will be optimally prepared for more formalized studies in the Middle School. Students who choose to continue their study of Spanish in the Middle and Upper School can easily become fluent. Examples of the Spanish curriculum: KINDERGARTEN & FIRST GRADE: Children build a basic vocabulary of colors, numbers, body parts, days of the week, months, directions, and basic greetings. Games (The Color Game, Simon Dice and Arriba, Abajo), songs (Cabeza, Hombros, Piernas, Pies and Los Elefantes), and stories (La Mariquita Malhumorada and Domingo Siete) are key in establishing and reinforcing skills. SECOND GRADE: Students learn to ask and answer basic "what" and "where" questions. They are introduced to some of the uses of the verbs "ser" (to be) and "tener" (to have), as well as to building related vocabulary. The song De Colores is taught in conjunction with the classroom study of Caesar Chavez. THIRD GRADE: Children work on reading and pronunciation skills, colors, and location words using the book, Corre, Perro, Corre. In conjunction with social studies themes third graders learn basic dictionary skills in order to create riddles in Spanish about South African animals. Children also learn how to tell time in Spanish. FOURTH GRADE: Developing abilities to ask and answer questions involving numbers, colors, locations, dates, family relationships, and time becomes a focus. Many of these skills are presented in conjunction with the classroom study of world geography. Children are introduced to regular present tense verb conjugations and begin to develop a more extensive understanding of Spanish pronouns. FIFTH GRADE: Children learn about the customs surrounding the Dia de Los Muertos holiday. They also research the geography, customs, and foods of Spanish-speaking countries. Activities reinforce and expand the vocabulary and grammar skills established in previous grades.