Here's the syllabus of the things we'll learn and do. Lot's of fun, and lots of learning!

Children will be exposed to native foods, music, animals and beautiful seaside sites of the Spanish-speaking world. We’ll travel to the Caribbean, the Galapagos and Patagonia to contrast the inhabitants of these varied climates. As pirates we’ll explore the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and learn about Lonesome George, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, penguins, dolphins, orcas, marine Iguanas, and seals in their habitats. Students will learn to locate some of these animals’ countries on the globe. Children will make their own marine masterpieces, with recycled materials (as much as possible) to help children learn to preserve nature. At the end of the week the class will be surprised by a visit by live aquatic animals from the Boston Aquarium! Children will return home singing songs written to honor the marine environments and animals of the Americas.

Children will delight wonderful dishes from the Americas. The target vocabulary will be table and kitchen words. Table manners will be taught. Children will discover new science, math, health, social skills and cultural awareness through our hands-on cooking of Central and South American cuisine. We’ll make guacamole, arepas, quesadillas and the sweet and yummy Cuban rice pudding (arroz con leche). Children will measure, squeeze, and mix ingredients while singing traditional songs from Latin-America. Students will also plant various legumes to better understand the process of nature. We will count them and emphasis their diversity through differentiating colors and shapes.

This week's "Campers" (students) will create an outdoor scene, converting the classroom into an artful space full of mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and beaches. Students will read and sing inside a unique tent they will design with recycled materials, helping to instil environmental sensitivity and a desire to conserve. We will be camping in magical places in the Caribbean, Guatemala, The Amazon and in the beautiful Andean regions of South America. We’ll study the diverse fauna we will encounter through our camping trip (including a surprise visit of real 'wild' animals brought to us by Curious Creatures. Children act out camping activities as well as creating items for outdoor use such as kites and fishing rods.

Children will enjoy learning the Spanish names of farm animals as we turn our classroom into a farm! Students will work together like bees (abejas) as we build a barn, stables, and a home for each animal. Through song, role-play, and Total Physical Response (TPR) storytelling, students will learn about each animal, its needs, and why it has a place on the farm (provides milk, eggs, wool, etc.). We’ll examine the different animals found on different farms through the Americas and the Spanish-speaking world. To make the learning first-hand, a live ‘petting zoo’ will be brought to the class with fluffy and cuddly animals for children to observe and touch.