Thanksgiving is the perfect time to introduce Spanish students to new words surrounding a holiday celebrated annually, explore cultural perspectives, and incorporate fun activities in Spanish class. Whether you’re teaching Thanksgiving words in Spanish, organizing a quick cultural discussion, or incorporating themed games, you can make learning engaging without extensive prep time or additional resources. Here are some Thanksgiving activities and ideas for Spanish class, including no-prep activity resources to help keep students engaged and practicing the target language during the week of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Vocabulary in Spanish
Introducing Thanksgiving vocabulary is a great way to begin your lesson plans for the week. Common words like “pavo” (turkey), “calabaza” (pumpkin), “agradecimiento” (gratitude), and “familia” (family) are essential and can easily be tied to the holiday’s theme. Use a quick matching or labeling activity, or have students illustrate vocabulary words to solidify understanding, ensuring lots of input with repetition of vocabulary in different contexts.
No-Prep Tip: Write a list of Thanksgiving-themed words in Spanish on the board or post a word wall with Thanksgiving-related vocabulary to a bulletin board. Have students come up with a short sentence for each word, using it as independent work. They can work independently or in pairs, adding a cultural twist by describing typical dishes or family activities from a Thanksgiving dinner.
Useful Phrases for Describing Thanksgiving Dinner or Family Activities
- Estoy agradecido(a) por… – I’m thankful for…
- En la mesa hay… – On the table, there is…
- Mi plato favorito es… – My favorite dish is…
- Nos reunimos para… – We get together to…
- Me gusta(n)… – I like…
- No me gusta(n) – I don’t like…
- Normalmente como… – Normally, I eat…
- Siempre hay… – There is always…
- Siempre tenemos… – We always have…
- Mi familia come en… – My family eats in… (la sala, el comedor, una mesa grande)
- Disfruto de… – I enjoy…
- Celebramos en… – We celebrate at/in…
- Ayudo a… – I help to…
- Cada año, mi familia… – Every year, my family…
- Nos gusta… – We like to…
- Durante la cena… – During dinner…
- Antes de comer… – Before eating…
- Mi familia celebra… – My family celebrates…
- Comemos muchas cosas como… – We eat many things like…
- Cada persona comparte… – Each person shares…
Thanksgiving Spanish Color By Number
\If you’re looking for a creative, no-prep way to celebrate Thanksgiving in your Spanish class, this Thanksgiving Color By Number Activity is an excellent choice. This engaging activity lets students learn Thanksgiving vocabulary as they color a holiday-themed picture, with each color corresponding to a Thanksgiving-related word in Spanish. This visual, low-prep activity is perfect for the week of Thanksgiving, requiring minimal setup and making for an ideal independent activity or a calming break that still reinforces language learning. Students will enjoy connecting Spanish vocabulary to art, building both language confidence and holiday spirit in class.
Thanksgiving-Themed Spanish Bingo
Bingo is a classic, low-prep game that’s always a hit in language classrooms! Create a Thanksgiving-themed bingo card with Spanish vocabulary related to the holiday, such as food items, family members, and expressions of gratitude. This activity is simple to prepare and a great opportunity for reinforcing vocabulary with comprehension activities in a fun way.
No-Prep Tip: Have students create their own bingo boards on blank paper using the vocabulary words you provide. As you call out each word in Spanish, encourage students to shout the English equivalent to check for comprehension, turning this into a whole-class activity.
Thankful Turkey Craft and Writing Activity
A Thanksgiving Thankful Turkey activity is another engaging way to encourage Spanish students to practice gratitude in Spanish. Provide students with a simple turkey template, and have them write what they’re thankful for on each feather. This can be displayed as a gallery walk, allowing the whole class to read each other’s messages of gratitude.
No-Prep Tip: Students can do this activity independently, and it’s easy to modify with different Thanksgiving words or phrases they’ve learned. It makes a great addition to the week of Thanksgiving and can double as a bulletin board display!
Thanksgiving Stories and Traditions in Spanish
Storytelling is a powerful way to introduce Spanish students to cultural traditions and language. Share a short story about the Thanksgiving holiday in Spanish or discuss harvest celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries, including the Native Americans who contributed to early harvest festivals.
No-Prep Tip: After introducing a Thanksgiving story, have students discuss family traditions using phrases like “Mi familia celebra…” (My family celebrates…), then ask them to compare these traditions with celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries. This encourages comprehensible input and cultural comparisons while practicing Spanish vocabulary.
Gratitude Journal in Spanish
Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, and a gratitude journal is a meaningful way for students to express appreciation in Spanish. Give them a prompt, such as “Estoy agradecido/a por…” or “Doy gracias por…” (I am grateful for…), and ask them to write three things they are thankful for each day leading up to Thanksgiving break.
No-Prep Tip: Turn this into a quick “Think-Pair-Share,” where students first reflect individually, then share their answers with a partner before discussing with the class. This no-prep comprehension activity provides lots of input as students practice listening, speaking, and writing.
Thanksgiving PQA in Spanish
Engage your students with Thanksgiving conversation starters to practice speaking and listening skills with PQA or Personalized Questions and Answers for Thanksgiving in Spanish. Questions like “¿Qué comes en el Día de Acción de Gracias?” (What do you eat on Thanksgiving?) or “¿Con quién celebras?” (Who do you celebrate with?) can get students talking about holiday traditions, making it a great opportunity to discuss new and familiar traditions in Spanish.
No-Prep Tip: Write 5–10 Thanksgiving-related questions on the board, and have students partner up to discuss their answers in Spanish. Encourage them to use full sentences for added practice!
Thanksgiving “Find Someone Who…” Activity
This activity gets students up and moving! Create a Thanksgiving-themed “Find Someone Who…” sheet with statements like “Busca a una persona…” (Find someone who…) followed by questions such as “¿Comes el pavo?” (Do you eat turkey?) or “¿Te gusta la tarta de calabaza?” (Do you like pumpkin pie)? Students will be supported with sentence starters and images to help students make connections.
No-Prep Tip: Create a grid with 3-5 statements for a quick in-class activity. Students circulate and try to find classmates who fit the descriptions, practicing listening and speaking skills along the way.
These Thanksgiving activities provide students with a mix of vocabulary, cultural insights, and communication practice, all while celebrating the holiday season. With these ideas and comprehension activities, Spanish students can practice the target language in meaningful ways, and whole-class discussions make the learning experience engaging and memorable. Whether it’s bingo, vocabulary lists, or a Thankful Turkey craft, these activities require minimal prep and help bring the spirit of Thanksgiving into your Spanish classroom!
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