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
Activities to do after reading a book in Spanish class.
Activities to do after reading a book – 6 box storyboard
- Supplies Needed: Computer paper & markers
- Divide a blank piece of computer paper into 6 boxes
- Draw what happens in chapter(s)/story
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| Storyboard review of Ch1-5 of Brandon Brown Quiere un Perro |
Blind Partner Retell (with Storyboard)after reading a book
- Supplies Needed: Storyboard
- Partner A – Use storyboard to retell to partner
- Partner B- look at book/projected story & correct partner
- Switch jobs
- Switch partners & repeat
2 Line Retell – activity to do after reading a book
- Supplies Needed: Storyboard (optional)
- Line students up across from a partner
- Simultaneously retell chapter (can use storyboard if have them)
- Ring a bell & one line rotates
- Repeat a few times
Gallery Walk – post reading activity
- Supplies Needed: Paper & markers
- After reading a story or a few chapters, give each student/group a chapter or scene.
- Each chapter illustrates what happened on large sheets of paper or a piece of computer paper.
- Post each 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: These could be 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
- After reading, have students work in pairs to come up with the top 10 (or 5) events from that chapter in the target language.
- Compare with other students to come up with a class Top 10 events.
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.
Free Write in Spanish
- Supplies Needed: paper & pencil
- Have students write what happened in the story, chapter or book so far.
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.
