One high school group read "La Oruga Muy Hambrienta," a translation of Eric Carle's "The Caterpillar."
According to Danielle Mantz, 16, the children's expressions spoke a universal language.
"I think it's fun, just seeing all the kids' smiles," said Mantz, a sophomore. "They're cute, and they actually look like they enjoy Spanish."
Greenbrier teacher Pamela Oyanedel speaks only Spanish when she meets in small groups with the school's kindergarten and first-grade students. The immersion classes are 20 minutes a day, she said.
Oyanedel said she relies on facial expressions and pictures to impart understanding.
"I have convinced them I do not speak English," Oyanedel, who is Hispanic, said quietly as children prepared for Thursday's activities.
Oyanedel also teaches Spanish to older students at the school.
High school students said they were impressed with the children's command of Spanish. The high schoolers must be in a Spanish 3-level or more accelerated course to be eligible for the honor society, Boonsboro teacher Renee Kauffman said.
Twenty-four high school students visited Greenbrier, Kauffman said.
"It's neat for the high schoolers to see how much the elementary school students are able to pick up," Kauffman said.
Haley said learning Spanish hasn't been hard. She talked as she drew hearts on her paper-plate sombrero.
Haley shrugged her shoulders when asked what the craft was called.
"Mexico hat or something?" she asked.
Caitlin Humphrey, 15, said she was surprised by how much the younger students have learned. She ate a sugar-coated Mexican wedding cookie as her new amigos said gracias and waved their goodbyes.
"It was awesome. I love working with little kids," said Humphrey, a sophomore. "They surprised me. I don't know, 6-year-olds speaking Spanish ... it's crazy."
