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Only $500.00 Needed

 

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Goal

a)The purpose of this project is to promote cultural awareness, inclusivity, and global understanding among Spanish 1 students by organizing a series of engaging cultural celebrations that highlight the diverse traditions, music, food, and customs of Spanish-speaking countries. This project addresses the need for experiential learning opportunities that bring language and culture to life beyond the textbook. Many students have limited exposure to multicultural experiences, and this initiative fosters respect, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the Spanish language through authentic, immersive events.
b) The project supports Florida’s World Languages benchmarks by enhancing students’ interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication skills in Spanish while deepening their intercultural competence. Specifically, it targets the following learning outcomes:

Students will identify and describe cultural practices, products, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking communities.

Students will use Spanish in real-world, culturally relevant contexts.

Students will develop empathy and appreciation for cultural diversity, which is critical to becoming global citizens.
By participating in hands-on cultural experiences, students will reinforce vocabulary and grammar learned in class while building stronger cross-cultural understanding.

 

 

Category

School-Wide, Grade-Level, Or Class Events/Programs - Parent Nights, Honor Roll Celebrations, EOY Events, etc. 

 

What will be done with my students

As a latina and a teacher I want to transform the Spanish 1 classroom into a vibrant, culturally rich environment where students actively engage with the Spanish language through immersive, real-world experiences. The project includes the following key components:

Cultural Celebrations of major Hispanic holidays such as Día de los Muertos, Las Posadas, Carnaval, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Students will create art, prepare cultural displays, sample traditional foods, and participate in music, dance, and storytelling activities.

Spanish Movie Days featuring culturally relevant, age-appropriate films in Spanish with subtitles. Post-viewing discussions and vocabulary exercises will reinforce listening comprehension and cultural context.

Restaurant Role-Plays where students practice ordering food and interacting in a simulated or real restaurant setting using menus and authentic language structures. A possible field trip to a local Hispanic restaurant may extend this experience beyond the classroom.

Outdoor Language Games such as vocabulary scavenger hunts, conversational relay races, and charades, which encourage movement and language practice in a playful and collaborative environment.

Clothing Store Role-Play, in which students simulate shopping for clothes using descriptive vocabulary, sizes, prices, and expressions for asking and offering help.

Professions Role-Play, where students assume different job roles (e.g., doctor, teacher, baker, police officer) and participate in simulated interactions using job-related vocabulary and scenario-based conversations.

Cultural Passports, which students will complete after each activity to reflect on their experiences, reinforce new vocabulary, and track cultural insights. 

 

Benefits to my students

This project will lead to significant academic and personal growth for students by increasing their language proficiency, deepening their cultural understanding, and most importantly, inspiring them to continue their Spanish language journey. Specifically, students will:

Gain confidence in using Spanish in practical, real-world situations through interactive role-plays and culturally rich experiences.

Develop a genuine appreciation for Hispanic cultures, traditions, and contributions, fostering empathy, open-mindedness, and global awareness.

Understand the real-world relevance of Spanish, spoken in 21 countries and across diverse communities in the U.S., making it one of the most useful and employable languages they can learn.

Feel motivated to enroll in higher-level Spanish courses, seeing the language as more than a requirement but as a powerful tool for communication, travel, career opportunities, and connection.

Retain key vocabulary and grammar skills more effectively through experiential learning and cross-context reinforcement.

b) How will you measure these outcomes?
Student growth and the success of the project will be measured through both qualitative and quantitative methods:

Pre- and post-project performance tasks, especially in speaking and listening, scored with World Language-aligned rubrics to track proficiency gains.

Student reflection journals and “cultural passports”, documenting learning after each event and capturing shifts in attitude, interest, and cultural understanding.

Role-play rubrics used to assess real-life application of vocabulary, expressions, and confidence in scenarios like ordering food, shopping, and describing professions.

Student surveys at the conclusion of the project asking about their interest in continuing language study and how their perception of Spanish has changed.

Tracking future enrollment in Spanish II and beyond, with anecdotal feedback from students about what influenced their decision.

By making language learning engaging, meaningful, and inspiring, ¡Viva el Español! aims to plant a seed that encourages lifelong language learning and cultural exploration.













 

 

Budget Narrative

The funds from this grant will be used to purchase materials and supplies that support a series of engaging, culturally immersive events and role-play activities for Spanish 1 students. These activities are designed to increase cultural awareness, improve real-world language use, and inspire students to continue their Spanish studies by making learning meaningful, fun, and connected to everyday life.

Specifically, the funds will cover:

Cultural Decorations (e.g., papel picado, banners, posters) to visually transform the classroom during cultural celebrations and enhance student immersion.

Traditional Snacks and Beverages that will allow students to sample foods from various Spanish-speaking countries during events such as Día de los Muertos, Las Posadas, and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Art and Craft Supplies for students to create cultural projects and displays that reinforce vocabulary and cultural practices.

Disposable Tableware (plates, cups, utensils) needed for hygienic and easy serving during food-based activities.

Music Licensing or Streaming Access to play traditional music and support dance/cultural expression during celebration days.

Role-Play Props like restaurant menus, play money, and shopping signage to simulate real-life conversational practice in restaurant and clothing store settings.

Printed Materials such as cultural passports, vocabulary handouts, signs, and game cards to support guided learning during each event.

Costume Accessories (e.g., hats, masks, scarves) to add authenticity to profession role-plays and celebration events.

Incentives and Prizes to encourage student participation in games and group activities.

Storage Bins and Organizers to store reusable materials for future classes and events, ensuring long-term benefit from the investment.

These resources directly support the learning goals of improving Spanish communication skills, enhancing cultural understanding, and motivating students to pursue further language learning. The materials will provide the foundation for an enriched classroom environment where students are excited to engage with Spanish in dynamic and memorable ways. 

 

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