Before starting Chapter 1 of Carol Gaab’s Brandon Brown Quiere un Perro I wanted to do a quick activity to introduce colors in Spanish. Chapter 1 mentions quite a few colors and I wanted to allow students a chance to discover then on their own. We had done this warm up activity when our high school students taught elementary Spanish lessons, but this was my first time completing it with high school level 1, and it was a surprising hit!
Supplies Needed – Crayons, Markers or Colored Pencils (with the label in Spanish) & Paper
Set the stage by introducing that there is going to be an individual & fierce competition. (This is the key for high engagement in my intensely competitive classes.) Have crayons, markers or colored pencils set on each table and have everyone get out a sheet of paper. Tell students their goal is to find as many colors as they can in Spanish (or French) using the labels. They will write them down in the target language, as well as color. Set a timer and let them loose.
- Students sort colors into a certain number of categories based one their own personal justification (similar hues, those they like/do not like, similar spelling, rainbow order, etc)
- Students ask and answer each other with the question, “what is your (least)favorite color?”
- Play I spy using new colors and objects around the room
- Play “stand if you..” based on if they are wearing a certain colored clothing item, or have a certain color hair, eyes, etc.
- Complete Twiccionario – Colores to practice colors in the context of real tweets
