As the new school year begins, it’s essential to set the tone with engaging and interactive activities that help students feel comfortable, build community, and start speaking Spanish from day one. Whether you’re teaching novice learners or returning students, these six back-to-school activities will energize your classroom and make language learning fun. Here’s a guide to what each activity involves, how to play, and variations to keep things fresh.
1. 4 Corners
What It Is:
4 Corners is a simple yet effective game that gets students up and moving while practicing vocabulary, listening comprehension, and speaking skills.
How to Play:
Label each corner of the classroom with a different option (e.g., numbers, colors, or personal preferences). The teacher calls out a question or a statement in Spanish, and students move to the corner that best matches their answer. For example, if the corners represent different foods, you might ask, “¿Cuál es tu comida favorita?” (What is your favorite food?), and students move to the corner that represents their choice.
Variation:
To add a twist, have one student in the center with their eyes closed. After everyone moves, the student in the center calls out a corner number, and anyone standing in that corner is “out” and must sit down. The game continues until one student remains.
Materials Needed:
- Signs or labels for the corners
You’re in luck if you want to try our 4 Corners with your students! I’ve created posters and a presentation to completely reduce your prep to printing and possibly laminating your 4 posters.
2. Two Truths and a Lie
What It Is:
This classic icebreaker is perfect for language learning, helping students practice forming sentences in Spanish while getting to know each other.
How to Play:
Each student writes down two true statements and one false statement about themselves, all in Spanish. Then, they take turns sharing their three statements with the class, and the others guess which one is the lie. For example, a student might say, “Tengo un perro, me gusta la pizza, y tengo tres hermanos.” (I have a dog, I like pizza, and I have three siblings.)
Variation:
Turn this into a group activity where students write their truths and lies, then swap papers with a partner. The partner then reads them aloud, and the class guesses the lie. This allows for more interaction and practice.
Materials Needed:
- Paper and pencils/pens
3. Human Bingo
What It Is:
Human Bingo is an interactive way to get students speaking and learning about each other in Spanish. It’s like a scavenger hunt, but with personal facts.
How to Play:
Create bingo cards with different statements in each square, such as “Ha viajado a otro país” (Has traveled to another country) or “Le gusta leer libros” (Likes to read books). Students walk around the room, asking their classmates questions in Spanish to find someone who matches the statement. Once they find someone, that person signs the square. The goal is to complete a row, column, or diagonal on their bingo card.
Variation:
For a twist, challenge students to fill the entire card or to collect as many signatures as possible in a set amount of time.
Materials Needed:
- Bingo cards with various statements
- Pencils/pens
Want a no prep way to incorporate this activity? Here you can get print ready human bingo cards for Spanish class that are perfect for novice and returning students!
4. The Name Game
What It Is:
The Name Game is an excellent icebreaker that helps students learn each other’s names while practicing Spanish vocabulary.
How to Play:
Students sit in a circle or however their desks are laid out. You can go up and down the rows. The first student says their name (Me llamo Jade). Then, the second students says their name (Me llamo Lorena. Se llama Jade.) and the name of the person in front of them. The cycle continues until you reach the last student. THEN, you, the teacher, will say all the names. Everyone participates.
The first students doesn’t get off easy. They have to go through all the students using me llamo and se llama. It’s great input and simple output and it forces the students to pay attention. I use this variation because it helps me remember student names and students get to know each others names. No more going through the entire semester or year without knowing the people in your class.
Variation 1:
The first student says their name and something that starts with the same letter, like “Me llamo Ana y me gusta el arte” (My name is Ana, and I like art). The next student repeats the previous student’s name and phrase, then adds their own, and so on around the circle. This game is a great way to reinforce vocabulary and memory.
Variation 2:
For an added challenge, have students use a different category, such as “Me llamo Pedro y tengo un perro” (My name is Pedro, and I have a dog), focusing on possessive adjectives or other grammar points.
Materials Needed:
- None, just a circle of chairs or a designated space
Use this free resource to introduce the structures me llamo and se llama.
5. Would You Rather (¿Qué prefieres?)
What It Is:
This fun activity helps students practice their speaking skills by choosing between two options and explaining their choice in Spanish.
How to Play:
Pose a series of “Would you rather” questions to the class, like “¿Prefieres vivir en la playa o en la montaña?” (Would you rather live on the beach or in the mountains?). Students must choose one option and explain why in Spanish. This encourages conversation and allows students to use a range of vocabulary.
Variation:
Turn this into a debate-style activity where students are split into two groups based on their preferences. Each group then discusses their choice, trying to convince the other side.
Materials Needed:
- A list of “Would you rather” questions
Here is a NO PREP presentation with Would You Rather prompts in Spanish! 125 Prompts with images to represent each option presented to students!
These back-to-school activities not only break the ice but also provide a solid foundation for building a supportive and interactive classroom environment. Incorporating these games into your first week of lessons will set a positive tone for the rest of the year, encouraging students to speak Spanish and connect with their peers.
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