Grade 5

This language course focuses on developing student communication skills in the target language, while learning about multiple strands of core curriculum content and global culture. Students will broaden their awareness, acceptance and understanding of cultural perspectives, products, and practices in Spanish-speaking countries. The language objectives in the course focus on providing students with opportunities to both extend and incorporate their prior knowledge of thematic vocabulary in the target language. Students will successfully communicate personal information about themselves, while making connections with other people in their family, classroom, and the world.

Students will be engaged in meaningful, motivating, and cognitively challenging work. Through the introduction of problem-based learning this course is designed to accommodate varying levels of language learners as they progress through stages of proficiency defined by the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages. Each problem-based unit includes an authentic (connected to the “real world” in a meaningful way) product for students to showcase their knowledge and interpretation of an open-ended task. The goal is to have students “grapple with” content and make higher order connections.

The New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for World Language 7.1 are noted throughout this course. The units also address national standards for World Language, Social Studies, Integrated Skills, Science, and Technology. In World Language, the goals of the newly unified standard 7.1 appropriate to this proficiency level are met. The curriculum includes interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational tasks.

During the year, emphasis will be on developing language skills with interdisciplinary connections to social studies, science, and health topics that include (but are not limited to): personal descriptions, physical characteristics, traits of culture, school, home, and clothing. Media presentations, short-term group and individual projects, reading, writing, discussions, study skills and cooperative learning are all elements of the program.