Mundo Abierto Spanish Intro

5. Calendar Crew: Dates

Learning Targets

• State birthdays and holidays.
• Use days and months correctly.

Success Criteria

• Correctly format day/month order.
• Order 10 peers by birthday.

Hook: Spot the Difference: Spanish vs. English Calendars.

Talk: "Birthday Lineup" - Organize by birthdate without writing (Spanish only).

Exit: "Mi cumpleaños es el..." response card.

6. Climate Check: Weather

Learning Targets

• Use weather and season terms.
• Compare North/South Hemisphere weather.

Success Criteria

• Match clothing to 4 weather types.
• Perform a weather forecast skit.

Hook: "Christmas in July?" Comparing seasonality in Chile vs. Spain.

Talk: "Weather Forecast Skits" - Report weather for 3 different cities.

Exit: "¿Qué tiempo hace hoy?" quick write.

7. Flavor Finders: Food

Learning Targets

• Identify staple Hispanic foods.
• Understand mealtime cultural norms.

Success Criteria

• Design a 3-course Spanish menu.
• Contrast meal times with US norms.

Hook: "Food or Fake?" - Guess traditional ingredients in a photo game.

Talk: "Menu Design" - Pairs create a themed menu for a specific country.

Exit: "Draw your favorite Hispanic dish and label it."

8. Rhythm Rebels: Music

Learning Targets

• Identify 3 traditional music styles.
• Listen for cognates in song lyrics.

Success Criteria

• Complete a cloze lyric sheet.
• Recognize basic dance rhythms.

Hook: Blind listen: Guess the genre (Salsa, Mariachi, Flamenco).

Talk: "Lyric Detectives" - Listen to 'La Bamba' and highlight known words.

Exit: "Describe the mood of the music in 2 words."

9. Canvas Culture: Art

Learning Targets

• Recognize Picasso's style/influence.
• Use symbolism in self-expression.

Success Criteria

• Analyze symbols in 'Guernica'.
• Create a mini Picasso-style sketch.

Hook: "One Minute Masterpiece" - Sketch a prompt in a cubist style.

Talk: "Symbol Gallery Walk" - Discuss meanings behind Hispanic art icons.

Exit: "What does the bull symbolize in Spanish art?"

10. Fiesta Feast: Holidays

Learning Targets

• Compare major celebrations.
• Understand cultural roots of holidays.

Success Criteria

• Complete a Venn Diagram (Halloween vs Day of the Dead).
• Identify 3 holiday symbols.

Hook: Virtual tour of a Mexican 'Ofrenda'.

Talk: "Holiday Poster Design" - Groups promote a specific Hispanic festival.

Exit: "What is one common myth about Dia de los Muertos?"

11 & 12. Routines & Culmination

Targets

• Contrast daily lives and family life.
• Present a comprehensive cultural project.

Talk: Final presentations of the "World Wonders" projects. Peer feedback using "I liked... / I learned..."

Assessment: Comprehensive unit rubric check.

© 2026 Mundo Abierto Curricula • Empowering Cultural Competence

Visual Analysis Area

10. Fiesta Feast

TRADITIONS

Myth vs. Fact

Día de los Muertos

It is **not** "Mexican Halloween." It is a day of remembrance and celebration to honor ancestors with music, food, and color.

🕯️

Ofrendas (Altars)

🌼

Cempasúchil (Marigolds)

💀

Calaveras de Azúcar

World Wonders Project

Showcase your journey through the Spanish-speaking world. What did you find most beautiful? Most surprising? Most meaningful?

¡Buen Viaje! • Good Journey!

Exit: Write out 3 random numbers called in German.

5. Kalender-Crew: Dates

Learning Targets

• Express days, months, and dates.
• Contrast German school schedules.

Success Criteria

• Correctly format date: Day.Month.Year.
• Find 5 peer birthdays in German.

Hook: Analyze a German school schedule. Why no school in the afternoon?

Talk: "Birthday Calendar" - Find classmates born in each season.

Exit: "Mein Geburtstag ist am..." full sentence card.

6. Klima-Check: Weather

Learning Targets

• Use weather expressions.
• Identify clothing for 4 seasons.

Success Criteria

• Link 4 weather types to appropriate gear.
• Present a 30-sec weather forecast.

Hook: Current temp in Berlin (C°) vs. Hometown (F°). Conversion check.

Talk: "Weather Forecast Roleplay" - Report from different German cities.

Exit: Wie ist das Wetter heute?

7. Geschmack-Entdecker: Food

Learning Targets

• Identify German staples (Brot, Wurst).
• Practice dining etiquette.

Success Criteria

• Categorize 10 foods by meal type.
• Explain 'Abendbrot' tradition correctly.

Hook: Visual tour of a German bakery (Bäckerei). Count the bread types!

Talk: "Design a German Menu" - Create a 3-course 'Speisekarte'.

Exit: What is one etiquette rule when dining in Germany?

8. Rhythmus-Rebellen: Music

Learning Targets

• Recognize folk vs. modern music.
• Learn simple song lyrics.

Success Criteria

• Fill 80% of a lyrics cloze sheet.
• Identify 3 instruments in a folk song.

Hook: Silent Disco - Students rotate through 3 stations (Classical, Pop, Folk).

Talk: "Lyric Detectives" - Highlighting cognates in song texts.

Exit: Which genre did you prefer and why?

9. Leinwand-Kultur: Art

Learning Targets

• Analyze Dürer's detail.
• Identify Bauhaus architecture.

Success Criteria

• Draw 1 symbol using Dürer's techniques.
• Identify Bauhaus buildings in photos.

Hook: "Spot the Difference" - Real nature vs. Dürer's detailed sketches.

Talk: "Symbol Sketch" - Create a personal sigil inspired by German art.

Exit: What is one key feature of Bauhaus design?

10. Festschmaus: Holidays

Learning Targets

• Explore Weihnachtsmärkte traditions.
• Compare US/German holidays.

Success Criteria

• List 5 items found at a Christmas Market.
• Compare St. Nikolaus vs Santa Claus.

Hook: Unwrap a "Schultüte" - What do German kids get on the first day of school?

Talk: "Holiday Comparison" - Designing a Venn diagram for seasonal festivities.

Exit: Which holiday tradition would you want to adopt?

© 2026 Weltweite Wunder Curricula • German Excellence

Hook: Woodblock prints (Ukiyo-e) depicting the four seasons.

Talk: Create a "Seasonal Forecast" poster in small groups.

7. Oishii Journeys: Food

Targets: Common Japanese meals and chopstick rules.

Success: Identify 5 staples; use 'Itadakimasu' correctly.

Hook: Chopstick Challenge - Moving pom-poms with speed.

Talk: "Design a Bento" - Balanced meal planning activity.

8. Matsuri Beats: Music

Targets: Festival music and traditional instruments.

Success: Name Taiko, Koto, Shamisen; mimic basic rhythm.

Hook: Video of a high-energy Taiko drum performance.

Talk: Rhythm Echo - Groups lead a "Taiko" clapping routine.

9. Zen Canvas: Art

Targets: Minimalism, symbolism, and 'Ma' (space).

Success: Define minimalism; create 1 symbol-based art.

Hook: Zen Rock Garden - Why so few stones?

Talk: Ink-painting simulation using one color and few lines.

10. Matsuri Masters: Holidays

Targets: Oshougatsu (New Year) and Setsubun rituals.

Success: List 3 New Year traditions; explain bean-throwing.

Hook: "Oni wa soto!" - Bean throwing ritual demo.

Talk: Holiday Venn Diagram (US vs Japan celebrations).

11. Ruchin Radar: Daily Life

Targets: School life, uniforms, and daily routines.

Success: Contrast a US school day vs. Japan (Cleaning!).

Hook: Video: "O-souji" - Students cleaning their school.

Talk: "A Day in my Life" comparative chart discussion.

12. Mirai Project: Culmination

Targets: Synthesize linguistic and cultural learning.

Success: Present 3-min showcase of chosen cultural topic.

Talk: Gallery Walk - Peer feedback on cultural posters/projects.

© 2026 Sekai no Hakken Curricula • Empowering Global Connections