Calico Spanish
Calico Spanish is an animated, story-based Spanish curriculum for kindergarten through 5th grade. Four levels include 365 open-and-go lesson plans, story and music videos, games and printables, so parents can teach without speaking Spanish.
What is Calico Spanish?
Calico Spanish is a digital Spanish curriculum for elementary kids. Lessons are built around animated stories and music videos starring recurring animal characters, such as Pedro the fish and María the monkey. Calico says it includes 300+ hours of ready-to-teach content.
The core idea is that any parent can teach Spanish. You don't need to speak it yourself, because the videos model the language and the lesson plans tell you what to do.
How it works
Calico is teacher-led, so a parent runs each lesson rather than handing over a tablet. A typical lesson might include:
- Watch a story or music video together.
- Practice new words with flashcards and simple games.
- Do an activity sheet or read a short storybook.
- Explore a culture capsule about a Spanish-speaking country.
There are 365 lesson plans across four levels, enough for a lesson most days of the school year. Everything is online, and you can print activity sheets, posters and flashcards at home.
What it covers
| Level | Theme | Sample skills |
|---|---|---|
| A | I Am Special | Introductions, age, days of the week, counting to 3 |
| B | I Love My Family | Family, pets, telling the date, counting to 6 |
| C | I Live Here | Home, food, routines, telling time, counting to 12 |
| D | Welcome to the Farm | Weather, seasons, clothing, counting to 100 |
Each subscription includes 32 story videos, 27 music videos, 15 storybooks, 549 flashcards, 99+ activity sheets, 70+ games, 24 posters and 16 culture capsules. Calico says the program aligns with national language-learning standards.
Who it's best for
Calico fits homeschool families with kids in K–5 who want a planned, gentle Spanish course and a parent ready to lead short lessons. It works well for teaching siblings together.
If you want kids to learn on their own, Dinolingo is more independent. Older kids who need speaking practice and credit should look at Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, homeschool plans cost $19 a month, $49 a quarter or $99 a year, with all four levels included. A 7-day free trial unlocks a full sample unit. Print workbooks and comics are optional extras. Browse all Spanish curriculum for comparison.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Often, yes. A complete elementary language curriculum is commonly allowed in ESA programs such as Arizona's ESA, and Calico offers an order form for charter school families. Each program decides. Save Calico Spanish to your wishlist, check scholarships for your state and apply once on Edulist.
How it compares
- MUZZY uses one long animated story and covers seven languages, from preschool through grade 8.
- Dinolingo covers 50 languages and lets kids learn more on their own.
- Rosetta Stone is the self-paced next step for older students.
Browse more language programs and homeschool curriculum.
Who Calico Spanish is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- K–5 homeschoolers starting Spanish
- Parents who don't speak Spanish
- Teaching several elementary kids together
- Families who want a low-cost yearly plan
Look elsewhere if
- Middle and high schoolers
- Kids who need to learn independently on an app
- Families learning a language other than Spanish
Calico Spanish pros and cons
Pros
- 365 open-and-go lesson plans
- Animated stories and songs kids enjoy
- All four levels included in one low price
- Printables included; print books optional
- Aligned to national language-learning standards, per Calico
Cons
- Needs a parent to lead each lesson
- Spanish only, and only through 5th grade
- Print workbooks cost extra
- Refund and renewal terms aren't spelled out on the pricing page
What’s included
- Four levels (A–D) for kindergarten through 5th grade
- 365 open-and-go lesson plans
- 32 story videos and 27 music videos with recurring animal characters
- 15 storybooks, 549 flashcards, 99+ activity sheets and 70+ games
- 16 culture capsules about Spanish-speaking cultures
- No Spanish background needed for the parent
Calico Spanish levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level A: I Am Special | K–5 | Introducing yourself, name and age, days of the week, blue and yellow, counting to 3. |
| Level B: I Love My Family | K–5 | Family and pets, brown, black and white, counting to 6 and telling the date. |
| Level C: I Live Here | K–5 | Home, food, games and routines, telling time, red and green, counting to 12. |
| Level D: Welcome to the Farm | K–5 | Weather, seasons and clothing on a Mexican farm, orange and pink, counting to 100. |
How much does Calico Spanish cost?
As of October 2026, Calico Spanish's homeschool plans are $19 monthly, $49 quarterly or $99 yearly for a single-family, at-home subscription. Every plan includes all four levels (A–D), lesson plans and digital materials, with access for the billing period. Printed materials are optional extras.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeschool monthly | $19/mo | Monthly | $19/mo |
| Homeschool quarterly | $49 | One-time | — |
| Homeschool yearly | $99/yr | Yearly | $8.25/mo |
Free trial: Yes. A 7-day free trial includes the complete lesson plans for Level B, Unit 7.
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
Future opening updates
Applications are not open on Edulist. Saving a product does not subscribe you or establish eligibility. Visit your wishlist to opt in for updates.
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Calico Spanish FAQs
How much does Calico Spanish cost for homeschool?
As of October 2026, the homeschool plan is $19 a month, $49 a quarter or $99 a year. All four levels are included, and print workbooks are optional at $24.99 per level.
What grades is Calico Spanish for?
Calico Spanish is a K–5 curriculum, and each level works for children ages 4 and up. Families with kids in different elementary grades often teach them together.
Do I need to speak Spanish to teach Calico Spanish?
No. Calico says anyone can teach it. Videos model native pronunciation, and the lesson plans walk you through each step.
Does Calico Spanish have a free trial?
Yes. The 7-day free trial includes the complete lesson plans for Level B, Unit 7, which covers pets.
Is Calico Spanish Christian or secular?
Calico's site doesn't describe any religious content, and its themes are everyday topics like family, home and the farm. Families from many backgrounds use it.
What should we use after Calico Spanish?
After Level D, middle schoolers can move to live classes with Homeschool Spanish Academy or a self-paced program like Rosetta Stone. Both continue through high school.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources: