Abuelo, Abuela, Bebé, Familia
Grandpa, Grandma, Baby, Family
📐 Standards alignment
ACTFL World-Readiness: Communication (interpersonal, interpretive, presentational) · Cultures (abuelos, padrinos, and Sunday family gatherings) · Comparisons (Spanish vs. English)
Can-Do targets (NCSSFL-ACTFL, Novice Low):
- I can name my grandparents in Spanish.
- I can talk about my whole family with one word.
- I can greet a family member in Spanish on a call.
Learning objectives
- Name four more family words including la familia itself
- Introduce their whole family: mi familia
- Understand abuelo/abuela as beloved words across cultures
Materials
The family photo again, or a drawing of extended family. Optional: video call a grandparent!
Prior knowledge
Lesson 1 family words — review with the photo.
Key vocabulary
el abuelo · la abuela · el bebé · la familia
The whole crew
Yesterday, the people at home. Today, the bigger circle: grandparents and babies — and the word that holds everyone: la familia.
Meet four new words
Tap each card to flip it and hear how it sounds. Look at the picture, say the Spanish word out loud, then check the back for the English meaning.
Say it three times
Go back through the cards above. For each word: the grown-up (or the 🔊 listen button) says it once, then your child repeats it three times, nice and loud. Silly voices are encouraged!
The family tree talk-through
Draw a quick family tree together (circles and lines — nothing fancy). Walk up the tree: mi mamá… su mamá es mi abuela! If grandparents are reachable, the ultimate homework: a video call where your child says ¡Hola, abuela!
Memory game: ¡Encuentra el par!
Find the matching pairs — each Spanish word has its picture hiding somewhere in the grid.
Find the matching pairs!
Escucha y elige — Listen and choose
Press each play button and choose what you heard.
1. Press play. What did you hear?
2. Press play. What did you hear?
3. Press play. What did you hear?
Generations walk
Walk across the room as each family member: tiny crawling bebé steps, regular kid steps, tall papá strides, slow careful abuelo steps with an invisible cane. Call the words faster and faster!
One more flip-through
Scroll back up to the flashcards and let your child flip through them on their own, saying each word before checking the back. No help this time — just see what they remember!
Show what you know
1. “La abuela” means…
2. What word means the whole family?
¡Muy bien!
Eight family words complete, crowned by the most important one: la familia. If your child called a grandparent and said ¡Hola, abuelo! this week, frame that memory.
Take it home
The abuelo call
Call or video-call a grandparent (or another special older person) and greet them in Spanish: ¡Hola, abuela! Teach them one more Spanish word you know. Draw their face when you did it.
Name: Date:
Family tree deluxe
Draw your family tree with as many people as you can fit. Label everyone with Spanish words where you know them. Tías and tíos welcome — ask what they are called!
Note for teachers & parents
Pacing: the video call homework is the emotional peak of the whole unit — mention it early so families can plan it.
Watch for: bebé is often already known from English (“bebe”). Celebrate it: see, you already speak some Spanish!