An Exploratory Spanish class in middle school is a fun and engaging introduction to the Spanish language and culture. This type of class gives students a chance to learn the basics of Spanish, such as pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and simple dialogues. In addition to the basics, students can dive into the history, culture, and customs of Latin American countries through activities such as projects, dancing, and playing cultural games.
Exploratory classes are designed to provide an enjoyable learning experience that encourages students to explore their curiosity about Spanish-speaking cultures. In other instances, the goal may be to help their academic decisions regarding future course selections in High School.
Exploratory Spanish Curriculum Map: The Pacing Guide
Need guidance on what to teach in an Exploratory Spanish course? Don’t know where to start?
Check out our Exploratory Spanish Pacing Guide that includes a 50-minute class daily schedule that organizes these ready-to-teach lessons and activities through 50 days of class.
All the lessons and materiales listed below are included inside the Pacing Guide.
Suggested Spanish Lesson Plans for Exploratory Spanish
This is our selection of Spanish 1 lessons that can also be used in an Exploratory Spanish class setting to give you an idea of what topics you should cover. But the class is complemented by incorporating cultural topics and authentic songs in Spanish.
The 50 vocabulary words and phrases for this lesson have been divided into three sections:
- Performing Actions
- Following Instructions
- Asking for Help Phrases
Students learn the basic greetings in Spanish with a Speaking Latino original video. They take notes, complete the worksheet, and do the oral practice.
Introductions in Spanish Lesson
Students learn how to introduce themselves and others with a Speaking Latino original video. They take notes and complete the worksheet to practice.
How to Say How Are You in Spanish Lesson
Students learn how to express how they are feeling in different situations with a Speaking Latino original video. They also review that the subject pronouns YO and TÚ can be stated or implied in some expressions they have learned.
Expressing Likes and Dislikes Lesson
With two Speaking Latino original videos, students learn basic phrases to express likes and dislikes as well as basic vocabulary to use those phrases in context.
Why Learn Spanish or Any Other Foreign Language Lesson
Students discover and reflect upon the benefits of learning Spanish or any other foreign language with a series of videos and infographics. They will also create a poster with their Spanish learning goals.
History of the Spanish Language Lesson
Introduce the history of the Spanish language in a 3-minute video in English. Students will then answer multiple-choice questions about what they learned by playing an online class game. (Non-online version provided too.)
The Alphabet and its Pronunciation in Spanish Lesson
Two Speaking Latino original videos cover the alphabet and its pronunciation in Spanish. Students watch videos, take notes, and do oral practice from a presentation with audio clips from a native speaker.
Numbers 0-100 in Spanish Lesson
Students will be able to say and spell the numbers in Spanish from 0-100 and communicate the numbers to someone else for common purposes.
Days of the Week, Months of the Year, Seasons and Weather in Spanish Lesson
Students learn the days of the week, the months of the year, the seasons, and basic weather phrases in Spanish with two songs and a video.
Spanish Speaking Countries Lesson
Students work in groups to learn basic facts about Spanish-speaking countries. They will create a collaborative board online and present it to the class
Greetings and Introductions – Subject Pronouns YO and TU Lesson Plan
Students learn how to exchange personal information (name, origin, age), some basic greetings, and the subject pronouns yo and tú. They will practice in written practice, a card game, and by creating an original dialogue using expressions to greet and introduce themselves in Spanish.
Gender and Number of Nouns – Introduction to Articles Lesson Plan
Through viewing a video on the concept, teacher instruction, and a game, students will learn how to identify and change the gender and number of nouns in Spanish
School Supplies, School Subjects, and School Schedules Vocabulary Lesson Plan
Through viewing videos on the Internet, the students will review school supplies, subjects, and schedules. Then, they will use this information to create and present a puppet show.
TV Ad Banefe – Compras Escolares – School Supplies Vocabulary Lesson Plan
Practice the school supplies vocabulary with this activity that uses an authentic TV ad from Latin America. The activity uses the Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) format.
Gender of Nouns, Definite and Indefinite Articles – Classroom Objects, School Supplies Lesson Plan
Through reviewing two educational videos, students learn that nouns in Spanish have a gender, number, and that the article should match both. With and authentic music video, students acquire and review classroom activity vocabulary to complete a final
Likes and Dislikes – Sports and Hobbies Lesson Plan
Students will have reviewed and used orally and in writing, the vocabulary about sports and hobbies, likes, and dislikes according to the different degrees.
Suggested Cultural Topics for the Exploratory Spanish Class
All these Google Slides presentations includes two versions: Spanish and English.
Las Chivas Colombianas – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Introduce your students to “Chivas” Buses or Las Chivas Colombianas from Colombia. A Chiva Bus is a colorful, open-air bus used for public transportation in Colombia. These buses have been around since the 1940s and offer a unique experience for tourists as they travel from one destination to another. The buses come equipped with live music, dancing, costumed locals and more!
Isla de Pascua – Chile – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Isla de Pascua, also known as Easter Island, is an island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, administered by Chile. It is famous for its monumental statues, called moai, created by the prehistoric Rapa Nui people.
La Bomba y Plena – Puerto Rico – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Introduce your students to La Bomba y Plena, music, and dance of African descent from Puerto Rico. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides in Spanish and English for them to bring cultural Afro-Latino (afrolatino) traditions to your classes.
La Sagrada Familia – España – Cultural Presentation & Activities
La Sagrada Familia is an unfinished Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona, Spain designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Construction began in 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026, coinciding with the centenary of Gaudí’s death. La Sagrada Familia is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Barcelona and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tamales – Latinoamérica – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Tamales are a traditional dish of Latin America that consists of a corn-based dough, called masa, that is filled with meats, vegetables, and spices and then wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves.
Lucha Libre Mexicana – México – Cultural Presentation & Activities
La lucha libre, or “free wrestling” in English, is a form of professional wrestling that originated in Mexico. It is characterized by colorful masks, rapid sequences of holds and maneuvers, as well as “high-flying” maneuvers and acrobatic feats. Since its creation in the early 1900s, la lucha libre has become a popular form of entertainment throughout Mexico and Latin America.
Muñecas Quitapenas (Worry Dolls)- Guatemala – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Worry dolls, or Muñecas Quitapenas in Spanish, are small traditional dolls from Guatemala. Crafted out of wood and yarn, they have been made by the Maya people of Guatemala since pre-Columbian times. According to Mayan legend, if a person tells the worry doll his or her worries before going to sleep at night, the worry doll will take the worries away while the person sleeps.
La Carreta de Bueyes Costa Rica – Cultural Presentation & Activities
Ox carts from Costa Rica are brightly-painted, wooden two-wheeled carts that are pulled by oxen. They were traditionally used for transportation and to carry goods, but today they are mainly used as part of parades and celebrations. They have become a symbol of Costa Rican culture and pride, and many people decorate their homes with images of the brightly painted ox carts.
Songs in Spanish to use in the Exploratory Spanish
La Gozadera by Gente de Zona ft Marc Anthony
With this song, your students will practice names of the Spanish Speaking Countries by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
“I realy love the song and the word bank at the bottom of the worksheet.”
“So excited to find this to use for my intro to spanish-speaking countries unit!”
“It’s also a great DANCE SONG to get students motivated and moving!”
Ella y él by Ricardo Arjona: Contrast between Cuba and USA
With this song, your students will practice Contrast between Cuba and USA by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
La puerta de Alcala: Ana Belén y Victor Manuel: History of Madrid
With this song, your students will practice History of Madrid by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
300 kilos by Los Coyotes: Spanish-Speaking Countries and Culture
With this song, your students will learn about Spanish-Speaking Countries and Culture by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Muévete by Rubén Blades: Spanish Song to Names of the Spanish Speaking Countries
You can use all the activities or pick only the ones suitable for your classes.
Preciosa by Marc Anthony – Vocabulary: Love for the Country
With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Love for the Country or vocabulario: amor por la patria (Puerto Rico) by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
El calor de una sonrisa: Spanish Song to Practice Listening Comprehension
This includes 6 classroom activities with the Spanish song “El calor de una sonrisa.” This is a beautiful song that describes and invites us to visit the city of Sevilla in Spain. The document includes a link to the music video that includes footage from the city.
México en la piel by Luis Miguel – Vocabulary: Mexican culture
With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Mexican culture or vocabulario: la cultura mexicana by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Calaverita by La Santa Cecilia – Present Tense
With this song, your students will practice Present Tense and Mexican Traditions by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
El calendario by Pasabordo: Spanish Song to Months of the Year in Spanish
You can use all the activities or pick only the ones suitable for your classes
Los otros cinco by Carlos D’Castro: Spanish Song to Days of the Week
You can use all the activities or pick only the ones suitable for your classes.
La la la by Shakira – Vocabulary: Football and Nations
With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Football and Nations or vocabulario: futbol y naciones by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Copa de la vida by Ricky Martin – Infinitive Verbs and Vocabulary
With this song, your students will practice Infinitive Verbs and Sports Vocabulary or deportes y verbos en infinitivo by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
With this song, your students will practice Prepositions, FIFA World Cup, Soccer, or Preposiciones by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Bailando by Enrique Iglesias: Cognates, Gerunds, Infinitive and Present Verbs
This song pack includes 6 activities. You can use all activities or pick some of them according to your students and class needs.
Hey DJ by CNCO ft. Yandel – Gerund and Reflexive Verbs
With this song, your students will practice Gerund and Reflexive Verbs or gerundio y verbo reflexivo by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Escápate conmigo by Wisin ft. Ozuna – Infinitive and Verb QUERER
With this song, your students will practice Infinitive and Verb QUERER or modo infinitivo, verbo “querer” by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
Solo yo by Sofia Reyes ft. Prince Royce: Verbs SER, ESTAR and IR
With this song, your students will practice Verbs SER, ESTAR and IR by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.
¿Adónde vas? by Jarabe de Palo – Song to Practice the Verb IR in the Present
Practice for the verb “Ir” in present tense. Use all activities or pick the ones most suitable for your students.
“my kids still talk about this song and video!”
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