Inside: 5 No prep post reading activities for Spanish class. Low prep activities for any book in Spanish class. Post-reading activities to show reading comprehension without comprehension questions. No prep reading activities for elementary, middle school & high school students.
Author: Allison Wienhold
Published: June 6, 2016 & most recently updated on March 24, 2026.
One of the big pieces of feedback I got from my blog survey was that everyone wanted specific activities to do with novels. Here are a few no or very low-prep activities (that do not involve any technology) that you can do after finishing a novel chapter or story. They can be pulled out in a flash for “O crap we have 15 minutes left what do we do,” a last minute sub plan, or a time filler when many students are missing.
Since this post, I have many others about teaching with novels you might want to check out as well.
- How to Teach Comprehensible Spanish Books
- 20 Activities for Spanish Class Novels
- 5 Activities to spice up any novel
- How to Assess a Novel in Spanish class blog post
Activities to do after reading a book
Activities to do after reading a book in Spanish class. A great way to encourage independent practice, literacy skills & critical thinking is to not always give your students graphic organizers. Students learn problem-solving skills if they have to use different ways to show understanding after a group novel or independent reading. These are activities that you don’t have to prep resource or use printable activities.
Activities to do after reading a book – 6 box storyboard
An engaging way for older students to show the main idea of a chapter or book. A goof time filler for independent work after a class story or reading.
Supplies Needed: Computer paper & markers
6 Box Storyboard Version 1
- Divide a blank piece of computer paper into 6 boxes
- Draw what happens in chapter(s)/story
Students fold 1 piece of computer paper to make 6 equal boxes. They trace the lines and use each of the 6 boxes to individually retell what happened. This is my go to activity after story asking is finished to keep students busy while I rest my voice. A great activity when there isn’t enough time to start a bigger activity. In the example below a student showed their understanding of a finished novel with a storyboard.
Story Board Version 2
After reading a story or a few chapters, give each student/group a chapter or scene of the book.
- Each chapter illustrates what happened on large sheets of paper or a piece of computer paper.
- Post each page one around room/school.
- Students walk from picture to picture re-telling book using pictures.
- **We actually did this when the power went out for a whole class period this year.**
Optional Twist 1 – Put in Order: Use the chapter scene out of order and students must put them in order.
Optional Twist 2 – Take it outside: Use chalk to draw scenes outside when nice weather.
Top 10 Events
Supplies Needed: Novel or copy of story. Paper & pencil.
- After reading, have students work in pairs or small groups to come up with the top 10 (or 5) events from that chapter in the target language.
- Compare with other students for new ideas to come up with a class Top 10 events. You could put each one on index cards to post around the room as well.
- A good activity for retrieval practice and to practice sentence structure with repetition of what happened.
Dear Diary
Supplies Needed: paper & pencil
- Have students write a diary entry as if they were a character in the story.
- They should include what events have happened during the story and reflect on how they affected the character and why.
- A creative twist is a graphic novel style diary with speech bubbles for a new way to show understanding.
- An easy way to practice character traits of the main character.
Free Write in Spanish
Supplies Needed: paper & pencil
- Have students write what happened in the story, chapter or book so far.
- A No prep activity for any topic, specific topic, or creating short stories.
- The first week of school is a great time to see what students can come up with in their own words on paper.
Optional Twist 1 – Silent Conversation: Students pass their paper after 1 minute and the next person continues where the first left off.
Optional Twist 2 – Play the teacher: After writing, students trade papers, read another free write, and reflect leaving comments like they are the teacher.
What are your go to, no prep, post reading activities?
More posts about teaching with novels in Spanish class
How to teach a novel – typical day
Activities for Spanish class novels
