It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! The Grinch is on TV; I’m wrapping presents; the tree is lit… nothing is better than this! Let’s make Christmas in Spanish just as wonderful in our classroom, too! You can spread Christmas cheer with this ultimate guide to festive activities for Christmas in Spanish class. These 15 activities are perfect for any level from Spanish 1 – AP Spanish!
If you’re in a time crunch (and let’s be honest, aren’t we all at this time of year?!), get a money saving bundle of 10 Christmas resources to fill the entire month of December and more!
#1 Ugly Christmas Sweaters
The whole week before Christmas, I love wearing my ugly Christmas sweaters to school! The first part of this lesson came from Zachary Jones. Students will look at pictures of Christmas sweaters from the popular department store Asos, and identify what is on each sweater. By matching the vocabulary terms to each sweater, students will be introduced to Christmas vocabulary in an authentic way.
Follow-up Ugly Christmas Sweater activities include:
- Students search online for their favorite ugly Christmas sweater and then describe it to the class! You could create a shared Google Slides where all students add their sweaters and descriptions. Or students could verbally describe the sweater as their classmates listen and draw what they hear.
- Students can design their own ugly Christmas sweater. Give them a blank clipart template of a sweater or shirt. Let them design away! Always have them write or explain a description of their sweater to incorporate the target language! Then, have them cut out their sweaters and hang around the room!
- PS, if you’re looking for a gift for a teacher-friend or family member, check out these mini knit sweaters that my mom and I knit! Some are mini ugly sweaters, but we sure think they are cute!
#2 Christmas Traditions in Spain
Christmas is more than just a one-day celebration in Spain. The festivities last for a few weeks, with a variety of holidays scattered from Dec. 22 – Jan. 6. Teach your students about each of these important holidays with these Christmas in Spain readings. Each of the six readings comes with a one page reading, Google slides post-reading comprehension and presentation activity. These readings make the perfect jigsaw activity for your students to read and present to the rest of the class about their specific holiday.
#3 Listen to Music
Listen to Christmas carols as you work on assignments the week or two leading up until Christmas break. Students really love hearing Christmas songs as they work. It energizes them, but at the same time, calms them as they hear familiar tunes.
#4 Illustrate a Christmas carol
Choose a Christmas carol in Spanish, and assign each group of students a verse or chorus. Make sure you have the lyrics printed out and already broken out into various stanzas. Students will listen to the song, read the lyrics, and illustrate their section. Then, they can present their drawings to the class in order of the song.
#5 Learn About Poinsettias (Flor de nochebuena)
The poinsettia is an iconic symbol associated with Christmas. A large majority of poinsettias are grown and shipped from Mexico. They have a cultural history dating back to the Aztecs and today are known for providing many florists with a large amount of their annual income! Learn about poinsettias by:
- Legend of the Poinsettia – Mexican legend in English, Spanish, or Bundle
- History of the Poinsettia – Read how the poinsettia became the Christmas flower in English, Spanish, or Bundle
- Virtual Field Trip to Greenhouses in Mexico – Explore the greenhouses, watch videos, and jump into Google Earth in English, Spanish, or Bundle
#6 Choice Boards
When you need to fill a few lessons with engaging activities, choice boards are the way to go! Perfect for sub plans, days where you need to catch up on grading, or just for fun before break! These La Navidad choice boards come in Novice & Intermediate/Advanced versions. The possibilities are endless – assign a specific number of activities for your students, have them complete the activities with a partner, or assign point values to each task! Tons of teacher ideas (rubric & vocab, too!) included with the download!
#7 Kahoot/Blooket with Spanish Christmas Trivia
Students love playing games especially as the days get closer and closer to break. Their desire for competition also seems to ramp up. Play Kahoot or Blooket (my students’ favorite!) with questions about Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries. You can search on Kahoot or Blooket for pre-made Christmas trivia games and use one that is already done. It will save you tons of time and the kids will love it!
#8 Read Short Stories
Even older kids can benefit from story time! Read Christmas stories in Spanish to your students. Make it even more comprehensible by taking images of each page and turning the story into a Slides presentation. Students can read and re-read on their own. They can identify vocabulary. You can use the story illustrations during activities where students write descriptions of “what happened” or “what happens next.” This book called “Mis cuentos navideños” is filled with short stories perfect for the holiday season.
#9 Write Your Own Christmas Story
For more advanced students, you can work on a project over the few weeks or days leading up to break. Have your students write their own Christmas story by creating a mini booklet! Students will brainstorm the characters (reno, Papá Noel, Reyes Magos, duendes, Sra. Claus, etc.) and the plot! Then, they will write and illustrate their own Christmas-themed story. It is always a good idea to prepare a list of Christmas vocabulary and phrases for them first so they can reference the words as they write! On the last day of the project, have story time, where they read their stories to each other or have them share with the lower level classes.
#10 Night of the Radishes – Noche de Rábanos
In Oaxaca, Mexico, on December 23, there is an annual art festival leading up to the Christmas holiday. Artisans carve beautiful sculptures into… radishes! This cultural event has been a part of Oaxaca’s Christmas celebrations for over a century. Share this unique festival, beautiful creations with your students. Grab a complete lesson with differentiated reading, vocabulary, post-reading activities, videos, and more! Read my blog post for Noche de rabanos lesson plan ideas.
#11 Christmas ABC Book
Students love being crafty around this time of year. Coloring, folding, drawing… It relaxes them and makes them feel like a little kid again. As you teach about Christmas in Spanish-speaking countries, have students create their own ABC vocabulary book of Spanish Christmas words. A is for adorno, B is for Belén, etc. Simply take a few sheets of paper and fold, write the word, a sentence, and a drawing! If you want a pre-made ABC vocabulary book, check out this one! Students will love coloring and learning all 26 Christmas vocabulary terms.
#12 Christmas Around the World (Spanish-speaking countries)
Divide students into pairs or small groups. Each group will choose a Spanish-speaking country to investigate their Christmas customs. Students should compile their research into a presentation, which they will give in the days right before Christmas break. Come up with a list of requirements that each group must include in their presentation. For example: food, songs, customs, clothing, weather, etc. For bonus points, I’ve had my students make and bring in the traditional food from their assigned country for a party right before break! It lightens the presentation day and lowers the pressure!
#13 Escape Rooms
I absolutely love going to Escape Rooms and solving puzzles! Some of my favorite teaching memories are the days where my students competed to solve breakout box puzzles that my colleagues and I would create from scratch. Seeing your students work together to solve puzzles and crack the code is exhilarating! Seeing the joy when they open each lock brings such a smile to my face.
- Here is a Novice Spanish Escape room, perfect for beginner Spanish students! Help Santa Claus save Christmas!
- For an authentic, cultural escape room – Navidad en México (English or Spanish versions). Students learn about Las Posadas and Three Kings Day by solving 5 puzzles (no prior knowledge or research needed!)
- If you are looking to create your own Escape Room, check out my tips and suggestions here.
#14 Christmas Task Cards
For a fun way to keep students moving and engaged right before break, use task cards! There is no right or wrong way to use task cards. You can create stations, a race, a board game, the list goes on and on! I love task cards with a variety of activities, such as true or false, explain, draw, etc. so students don’t get bored with the same type of question. Check out my La Navidad task cards in Spanish & English (or the bundle). There are 30 questions to save you time and keep your students engaged in the Spanish traditions of Christmas.
#15 Celebrate 3 Kings Day (and random acts of kindness!)
To celebrate Three Kings Day, children leave their shoes by the door, hoping that the Three Kings will bring presents! Explain the history and significance behind the tradition before having students place their shoes at the door or in the hallway. Then, rather than bringing gifts to each student, have them give gifts to one another by writing nice notes and putting them in the shoes of their classmates! It’s a great way to practice giving compliments in the target language and promotes positivity and kindness.
How will you celebrate Christmas with your students this year? The week or two leading up to break should be fun and relaxing, yet can be filled with content and target language use! This ultimate guide to festive activities for Christmas in Spanish class will hopefully inspire you and bring lots of holiday cheer to your classroom!
Save money (especially as you are spending lots on gifts during the holiday season) with this Navidad Spanish lesson bundle! You will have enough content for the entire month of December… and probably more! Grab all of the resources above for one low price!
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