Incorporating culture into our lessons is a great way to help students establish purpose and authenticity in their learning, we know it. It also helps us guide them to make inspiring cultural connections that promote critical thinking and a growth mindset.
Although our curriculum is rich in cultural activities, the end of the school year provides us with even more opportunities to fully immerse our students in the target culture through their artistic passions and interests.
Here are 7 activities or ideas you can use
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Gamify Your Class
Turn learning into a fun and exciting game with various activities to help your students revise content covered throughout the year. Try contest games like Trivia, Jeopardy, Pasapalabra, or Ahora Caigo to reinforce studied concepts. Alternatively, get your students moving and exploring with scavenger hunts or escape rooms, which you can easily create with Genially. For a more laidback yet culturally relevant option, teach your students to play typical Spanish cards games such as Mentiroso, Siete y Medio, or El Cinquillo. With these engaging activities, your students will enjoy learning and practicing their language skills while having a great time.
2. Integrate Music and Dance
Get your students grooving to the rhythms and sounds of the target language with a range of music and dance activities. Organize karaoke sessions for Spanish songs or ask your students to collaborate to compose original Spanish songs. For a more modern twist, choreograph a TikTok-style dance to a Spanish song or use Just Dance videos featuring Spanish songs on YouTube for a fun and easy way to practice language skills. You can also play Spanish music in the background while your students work on other activities, creating a lively and upbeat learning environment.
3. Watch Spanish Speaking Films
Immerse your students in the rich culture of Spanish-speaking countries with a selection of age-appropriate films with relevant content to what you've covered in class. Whether it's El Laberinto del Fauno to supplement lessons on the Spanish Civil War or La Misma Luna to explore the topic of migration between Mexico and the United States, there are many exciting films to choose from. Watching movies together can be a great way to bond as a class while deepening your students' cultural connections.
4. Work on Passion Projects
Encourage your students to follow their passions and explore topics related to the target language and culture with a passion project. Offer a choice board with different options for presenting their projects, such as creating a video about the life and art of Salvador Dalí or making a comic book based on an accessible version of El Quijote. With a passion project, your students will have the chance to explore their interests while also practicing their language skills in a fun and creative way.
5. Explore the richness of the Hispanic Cuisines
Indulge your students' taste buds and explore Spanish-speaking countries' culinary traditions with a food unit. Have each student choose a country to study and prepare traditional dishes to share with the class on the last day of class. It's a delicious way to learn about culture and language simultaneously!
6. Plan a Trip
Let your students put their language skills to the test by planning a dream trip to a Spanish-speaking country. Provide them with a budget, or not, and have them plan everything from transportation to food, giving them a chance to practice their language skills in a fun and practical way. Encourage creativity and exploration as they plan their adventure, and watch their language skills soar as they immerse themselves in the target culture.
7. Journal in Spanish
Allow your students to reflect on their language learning journey with a journaling activity in Spanish. Provide them with fun templates to color in and write about, and encourage them to write a reflection on their year of language learning. With this activity, your students will deepen their understanding of the target language and culture while also practicing their writing and reflection skills in a fun and engaging way.
Don’t forget to involve them in the decision making
If you like incorporating cultural activities into your language lessons but need help figuring out where to start, consider asking your students for their input. By involving them in decision-making, you can help them feel more invested and connected to the target culture. However, as you plan these end-of-year cultural activities, remember to keep the fun factor high while maintaining your classroom routines. It might be tempting to take a break from your usual teaching style and let loose a little, but remember that consistency is critical to a successful end to the school year. So, balance enjoyment and structure to create a memorable and engaging learning experience that reinforces the importance of staying on track.