Spanish III/IV/V

Students have spent the past two or more years acquiring Spanish, and the emphasis is the same in third year Spanish and beyond. Students in 3 and above will learn about a variety of cross-curricular and cultural topics.  Don't be intimidated by an advanced language course! Previous years of study have prepared students to continue growing as Spanish speakers.   Though students study the same unit together, the level of Spanish they are expected to produce varies by year.  Proficiency goals are based on the year of study: 

Spanish 3 has a goal of growing in the Intermediate- Mid proficiency level.

Spanish 4 and above is beginning to produce Intermediate- High language.

This course is taught using an alternating curriculum which will change each semester for two years (A,B,C, D).  Students will explore new topics each semester.

Class guidelines:

Come to class prepared: Notebook, pen, charged Chromebook

Listen with the intent to understand.

When a class response is required, EVERYONE RESPONDS.

Be willing to make mistakes, and allow others room for error.

Be honest, no copying or allowing copying.  Cite your sources. No translators!

Retakes are allowed on all assessments until the final week of the term.  You must turn in a “request to retest” form.

Late work is accepted

See page 18 of the Student Handbook.


Grading categories: PHS Grading Scale:


Reading 30% A 93-100 C 73-76

Listening 25% A- 90-92 C- 70-72

Writing 25% B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69

Speaking 20% B 83-86 D 63-66

B- 80-82 D- 60-62

C+ 77-79 F <60

Proficiency Targets: Spanish 3


Term 1/3 Term 2/4

Speaking/ Writing Intermediate Low Intermediate Mid

(Presentational)

See p. 12 

Reading/ Listening Intermediate Mid Intermediate Mid

(Interpretive)

See p. 4 


Proficiency Targets: Spanish 4+


Term 1/3 Term 2/4

Speaking/ Writing Intermediate Mid Intermediate Mid

(Presentational)

See p. 12 

Reading/ Listening Intermediate Mid Intermediate Mid

(Interpretive)

See p. 4 

Biblioburro: (9 days)

Essential Questions

How does access to books impact a community?

What impact does reading have on education?

What problems exist in my community, and how can I contribute to solutions?

Target Structures

Viene a un pueblo s/he comes to a town

Toda la gente lee all of the people read

Pone (libros) encima de s/he puts (books) on  top of

Assessments

Listening: Dictation

Reading: Hawthorne

Writing: Biblioburro

El monstruo en el armario (8 days)

Essential Questions

What are your fears?

What are similarities in differences in suspenseful films?

Target Structures

Durante la noche during the night

Oyó algo s/he heard something

Se despertó s/he woke up

Se durmió s/he fell asleep

Assessments

Reading: El monstruo select the word

Writing: El monstruo en el armario

Huracanes en el Caribe (9 days)

Essential Questions

What factors affect housing materials and construction?

How have hurricanes affected the Caribbean region?

Target Structures

teme s/he fears

construye con cuidado s/he constructs with care

toca s/he touches, knocks

feroz fierce, ferocious

déjame Leave me

termina ends

sopla s/he blows

Assessments

Reading: Huracanes

Speaking: Flipgrid

El Camino de Santiago : (11 days)

Essential Questions

Why might someone take a pilgrimage?

How can personal reflection benefit my life?

Target Structures

quiere ir s/he wants to go

se queda s/he stays

sigue s/he follows, continues

Assessments

Reading: Camino de Santiago

Writing: Camino de Santiago

Cuesta Demasiado (8 days)

Essential Questions

How do I spend my money?

How would I spend my money if I had more of it?

Do I consider myself to be a lucky person?

What does generosity look like in my life?

Target Structures

vende s/he sells

cuesta demasiado It  costs too much

compra s/he buys

Assessments

Listening: Dictation and Illustration

Reading: Cuesta demasiado

Writing: Story frame writing

El gordo: (3 days)

Essential Questions

How does the Christmas lottery in Spain work?

How do students prepare to sing the lottery?

How does a lottery unite a nation?

Target Structures

El sorteo the lottery

El premio the award

El billete the ticket

Assessments

Writing: Los anuncios del sorteo 

El Sistema Solar (8 days)

Essential Questions

Who are some famous astronauts and how have they impacted their field?

What are the parts of our solar system?

What are the requirements to become an astronaut?

Target Structures

Basic solar system vocabulary

Assessments

Reading: The Moon

Listening: Interview with Franklin Chang Díaz

Writing: Hay vida en la luna

Foundations (4 days)

Essential Questions

How do I spend my vacation time?

How do I talk about what I did in the past?

Target Structures

fue s/he went

dijo s/he said

vino s/he came

vio s/he saw

Assessments

Writing: Focused Free Write

Vida y Muerte en la Mara Salvatrucha: (23 days)

Essential Questions

Why was the MS-13 gang formed?

What were important aspects of the Salvadorian Civil War?

What is the connection  between global conflict, immigration, and gang violence?

Assessments

Speaking: Harkness discussion connecting novel and movies

Reading: Novel

Listening: Gangsta and Adentro song comparisons

Latinoamérica: (8 days)

Essential Questions

What makes a person rich?

What are some important cultural aspects of latin american identity?

How do cultural products reflect the nation they come from? 

Assessments

Reading: “Hay gente tan pobre…”

La República Dominicana: (20 days)

Essential Questions

How do race relations compare between the US and the DR in the 60’s?

How do race relations compare now?

How does the MLB recruit young latino athletes?

What does the minor to major league pipeline look like in the Dominican Republic?

How did the Trujillo regime impact he Dominican Republic?

What injustices would I risk my life to end?

Assessments

Listening: In the time of butterflies viewing guide

Reading: Chapter Quizzes

Writing: Compare/Contrast experiences in the DR and the US

Various reading/writing about “Minerva” novel and “Felipe Alou”

Panamá: (20 days)

Essential Questions

What is the significance of the Panama Canal?

What were the effects of the construction of the canal?

How did the building of the canal increase cultural diversity in Panamá?

What plants and animals live in Panamá?

What are local myths and legends in Panamá?

Assessments

Writing: Biodiversity in Panamá

Reading: Vector Chapter Quizzes

Listening: Conservation Corridors

Writing: El hombre terrible re-write

Ecuador: (15 days)

Essential Questions

How and what can one learn from a popular song and music video?

Is it important to keep languages and cultures alive? Why or why not?

What is interculturality and how and where is it present in the world?

Assessments

Reading: El Kuychi

Reading: Si tu la ves

Speaking: Ecuador Flipgrid

Spain: (30 days)

Essential Questions

What impact did the Spanish Civil War have on Spain?

How do important historical events infiltrate popular films?

What effects do stereotypes have on people?

Assessments

Reading: La hija del sastre

Writing: Film comparison and analysis

Listening: Comprehension of films

Bajo la mesa: (10 days)

Essential Questions

What is the impact of art in the modern world?

What is the importance of art museums?

How can you describe a work of art?

Target Structures

Soler s/he usually

Vale la pena It’s worth it

Quisiera s/he would like to

Assessments

Reading: The effect of art

Reading: Meet the artists

Listening: First or second

Writing: Recreation Description

Parecidos: (5 days)

Essential Questions

What type of problems occur when a person doesn’t see the true characteristics of others?

What is the meaning of the phrase “people see what they want”?

Target Structures

Parecer to seem

Creer to believe

Pensar to think

Mismo Same

Assessments

Listening: Match the picture to the audio

Writing: Video retell

Atrévate: (5 days)

Essential Questions

What are some disadvantages of fear?

Why is it important to overcome fears?

Target Structures

Atreverse to dare

Vencer to overcome

Cambiar to change

Acercarse to get closer

Assessments

Listening: Match the picture to the audio

Writing: Video retell

The Switch: (5 days)

Essential Questions

How can you use all the information you have to make a good prediction?

What are some possible consequences of curiosity?

What are your goals for the future?

Target Structures

Volverse a to return to

A partir de hoy starting today

Desaparecerá s/he will disappear

Assessments

Writing: Epilogue

Speaking: Video retell

Writing: A partir de hoy pledges

Sirena: (10 days)

Essential Questions

Why is communication important?

How can we be more inclusive with language?

Why is it important to know more than one language?

Target Structures

Se da cuenta de que s/he realizes

Trata de s/he tries

Aprende s/he learns

Assessments

Writing: Language class persuasion 

Reading: Ataque de la sirena

Tezcatlipoca: (15 days)

Essential Questions

What is the history of the Aztec people in Mexico?

Do you believe in curses and magic?

Assessments

Reading: Geography of Mexico

Writing: Interpret a Codex

Speaking: Podcast

Recipe Talk: (5 days)

Essential Questions

How does food influence our daily lives?

What are some memories from your childhood that include food?

What is a traditional food for your family?

Target Structures

Pon Put

Mezcla Mix

Hierve Boil

Cuando era niño When i was a kid

Assessments

Writing: Recipe description 

Comer para vivir: (10 days)

Essential Questions

How does geography affect our diets?

Do you live to eat, or eat to live?

If you lived in a city, how could you get fresh fruits and vegetables?

Target Structures

Alimentar to nourish, eat

Gastar to spend

Cultivar to cultivate

Comprar to buy

Assessments

Reading: A week of groceries

Reading: Food insecurity

Speaking: Menu Explanation

Supernatural: (20 days)

Essential Questions

Why are we fascinated by the supernatural?

What similarities and differences exist in legends and stories between cultures?

How do our religious beliefs affect our reactions and ability to believe in supernatural events?

Assessments

Speaking: Retell El vampiro y la dentista

Writing: Compare and Contrast two legends

Reading: Variety from the novel “Leyendas Impactantes”

Narcoviolencia: (15 days)

Essential Questions

What are the origins and current status of narco violence in Mexico?

How are narcos and the government portrayed in pop culture?

What are some reasons people join cartels?

Assessments

Writing: Answer essential questions

Reading: Corrido Mexicano

48 horas: (10 days)

Essential Questions

Why are the Galapagos Islands so important in terms of ecology?

What do humans need to survive?

Why is it important to weigh risk with reward?

Assessments

Reading: Chapter quizzes from the novel “48 horas”

Writing: Choice Board

Medicine or cure: (6 days)

Essential Questions

What are some advantages and disadvantages of home cures?

Is it necessary to listen to a doctor’s advice?

What are some uses of essential oils?

Target Structures

Se tropezó s/he tripped

Se cayó s/he fell

Ha tenido s/he has had

Empezó a notar s/he began to notice

Assessments

Reading: Essential Oils

Listening: Essential Oils