As the year comes to a close, it’s a perfect time to explore New Year’s traditions in the Spanish-speaking world with your students. Whether you’re gearing up for the winter holidays or looking for a fun way to wrap up the semester, these activities will bring Spanish culture and language to life. From lucky grapes to New Year’s resolutions, here’s a list of paid and free activities that will make your New Year’s Eve lesson exciting for Spanish students.
Spanish New Year Activities
These resources are great ways to immerse your students in Spanish traditions and New Year’s celebrations from Spanish-speaking countries.
- Latin American New Year – La Nochevieja Reading Passage and Extension Activities
Teach your students about New Year’s Eve in Latin American countries with this comprehensive reading and extension activities. Students will explore cultural practices, including the tradition of wearing red underwear for good luck in the upcoming year.
Check it out here. - Las Doce Uvas Comprehensible Reading + Color by Number
One of the most famous New Year’s traditions in Spain and several other Spanish-speaking countries is Las Doce Uvas, where people eat 12 grapes at midnight for good luck in the new year. This resource includes a comprehensible reading and a color by number activity, perfect for engaging Spanish learners while practicing their vocabulary.
Learn more here. - Spanish New Year’s PQA Presentation
If you’re looking for an interactive way to practice New Year’s resolutions and future tense with your students, this PQA presentation is a great resource. It includes personalized questions and answers about the arrival of the new year and encourages students to talk about their goals for the upcoming year.
Grab it here. - Año Nuevo: Traditions Reading + Color by Number
This activity covers various New Year’s traditions, including the significance of lucky grapes and traditional foods enjoyed in Spanish-speaking countries. The color by number activity makes it an engaging and low-stress activity for students.
Get it here. - Año Nuevo: Clothing Colors Reading + Color by Number
In many Hispanic countries, wearing specific clothing colors on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring good luck. This reading activity introduces students to this fun tradition while allowing them to practice their Spanish vocabulary in a creative way.
Check it out here.
Low-Prep, Free Spanish New Year Activities
For teachers looking for a fun activity that’s easy to prepare, here are some low-prep ideas that you can implement right away:
- Classroom Discussion on New Year’s Resolutions
A great way to start the first day back after holiday break is by discussing New Year’s resolutions (propósitos de Año Nuevo) in Spanish. Have students share their goals for the new year using the future tense. You can also discuss how New Year’s Eve is celebrated in their own culture. - YouTube Videos on New Year’s Traditions
Showing a short YouTube video about New Year’s Eve customs from the Spanish-speaking world is a great way to introduce your students to New Year traditions. Afterward, you can ask comprehension questions in Spanish, checking for understanding of the new year’s traditions mentioned in the video. - The Lucky Grapes Activity
Bring the las doce uvas tradition to life! Give each student a piece of paper with 12 numbered boxes and have them write a New Year’s resolution in each one. Then, at the chiming of the clock, have each student read their resolutions aloud. It’s a fun way to combine the lucky grapes tradition with language practice. Check out the grapes activity from Señora Cruz here.
Why Celebrate New Year’s in Spanish Class?
Incorporating New Year’s traditions into your Spanish classes not only provides students with insight into Spanish culture, but it also gives them the opportunity to practice essential language skills like vocabulary and comprehension. It’s the best way to engage students at the end of the year, creating meaningful connections between language and culture. Whether you choose to celebrate Año Nuevo with a simple discussion or dive into activities like color by number, it’s a great time to introduce students to the exciting customs of the Spanish-speaking world.
These Spanish New Year activities offer a variety of activities to suit all kinds of classrooms, whether you’re teaching middle school or high school students. They’ll keep your Spanish learners engaged and ready to tackle the first step of the new year with excitement and language learning! Feliz Año Nuevo to all! 🎉
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