The fifth and sixth grade Spanish program is part of a first through sixth grade Sequential FLEX Program Model. "This type of program permits a wide variety of formats, time, and scheduling patterns and has as its major focus the teaching of one foreign language for two or more years. The goal is to provide instruction in the four abilities: listening (understanding), speaking, reading, and writing, as well as cultural understanding" (Elementary Foreign Language Programs: FLES*, An Administrator's Handbook, Gladys C. Lipton, 2001).

The fifth grade Spanish curriculum reinforces and builds upon skills taught in previous years. Using this scaffolding approach, students expand their knowledge of the Spanish language in an organized and sequential way. For example, students use their knowledge of family vocabulary and apply it as they learn the more sophisticated skill of describing their extended family. In addition, students will begin to focus on using appropriate grammatical structures in context, such as gender and number agreement, using definite and indefinite articles, and using descriptive words appropriately. Students will have their own workbooks and participate in activities, games, and projects while using the language.

The sixth grade Spanish curriculum will cover concepts contained in the introductory section of the seventh grade textbook while reinforcing and building upon the Spanish introduced in the previous years. Students will expand their vocabulary by using action words to describe different activities relevant to their daily lives at school and at home. Students will again have their own workbooks and will continue participating in hands-on activities and games while using the language. Students will take two nine-week units of Spanish during the year.