Hands-on Activities for a Spanish-One Classroom

Learning a second language can frustrate even the brightest students. Creative learning tools enhance the textbook lesson while adding excitement to the process. Using various teaching styles keeps the student interested. Also, hands-on activities fuel another dimension of learning by engaging a student's various senses. Use the hands-on activities in correlation with the weekly lessons and make it enjoyable for the students. Allow the students to laugh at their own mistakes and learn from each other.

Stick to It

Pink paper helps students remember feminine words by correlating a visual cue.

Use post-it notes or laminated sheets with double-sided tape. Preferably have blue paper for masculine words and pink paper for feminine. Write the labels of items in the classroom. Place the labels on the items and have the students pronounce the words. Collect the words and divide into two piles. Make two teams, giving each a stack of labels. One member from each team places a word on the corresponding item, and then returns so the next teammate may go. The first team to correctly place all their labels wins the game.

Charades

Students can only speak in Spanish during the charades game.

Divide the class into two teams for this activity. Each student picks a word from the lesson plan to use in his charade. For instance, if the lesson plan is for an airport, the student could choose to perform anything from "pilot" to "I like to fly." The answers must be given in the correct tense and form. Begin this activity with simpler one-word answers. As the class progresses, require the students to choose phrases.

Who Am I?

Stick a label to the back of each student. Do not let the student see her own label. Choose words from the current lesson and prior vocabulary. Students may only ask yes or no questions of each other, speaking in Spanish. Provide assistance for the question formation by putting key phrases on a board for reference. Students move their label to the front once they have guessed correctly. All students continue to answer questions from the other players.

Bingo Conjugation

Awards for bingo winners could include bonus points for the next test.

Have students fill their bingo cards with the past, present and future conjugation of eight assigned verbs. Provide the conjugated verbs on an overhead for reference while filling out the bingo cards. Use a free space in the middle of the card. Remove the overhead when students finish the card. Call the bingo game in English. Play at a slower pace to allow time for the student to translate and conjugate. For additional help, give a sentence in English and immediately translate to Spanish while leaving out the translated verb.

References

• Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers: Activities and Games
• Hands on Spanish: Spanish Classroom -- Engaging Activites

Resources

• Spanish Programs