If the young people are to become effective participants in a democratic society, then social studies must be an essential part of the curriculum in the early childhood/elementary years. In a world that demands independent and cooperative problem solving to address complex social, economic, ethical, and personal concerns, the social studies are as basic for survival as reading, writing, and computing. Children benefit from a study of cultures, people, places, and environments as well as the study of a foreign language in the primary grades. Learning a second language in primary school can provide elementary teachers with a very unique opportunity to infuse social studies into the curriculum. The goal of the Spanish Enrichment Program at Centerville Elementary School in Centerville, Ohio, is to expose students to the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Teachers provide students with an abundance of opportunities for listening, speaking, and singing in Spanish. Students experience culture, geography, economics, history, music, dance, art, food, meal preparation, and literature related to Spain, Central America, and South America. In this article, the authors describe how teachers can "work cooperatively" and "build a sense of community" as they teach about "the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries." (Contains 3 notes.)