Inside: Ideas for Winter Holidays in Spanish class. From the Spanish Navidad Commercial Madness, to the Christmas Lottery, to 3 Kings Day, to decentering Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Free winter activities in Spanish class, and everything in between. Hopefully, you will find the answers to the questions: “What to do in December in Spanish class?” “What to do the day before winter break?” and “What to do the day after winter break in Spanish class?”
Winter Holidays in Spanish class
There are SO many great resources out there related to Winter holiday traditions in Spanish speaking countries. I know there has been some debate about if holiday celebrations belong in the classroom, but for Spanish teachers, it is perfect time to dig into intercultural competence, practices, perspectives, and comparisons of the Spanish speaking world and our own. As with everything it is important that we are not providing our own perspective, showing diverse celebrations and allowing students to investigate and come up with their own views. Here are activities that I am using this year, have used in the past, or would love to be able to have time to incorporate someday.
Navidad around the world
Sra. Joto Jota shared amazing interactive Google Slides about Christmas traditions around the world. These would be great if you are virtual this year to add some culture.
Hanukkah in Spanish class
This blog post has lots of ideas for Hanukkah in Spanish class from Spanish with Stephanie.
Decentering Christmas in Spanish class
This important blog post has lots of ideas from Françoise (The Woke Spanish Teacher) for Winter Soltice activities beyond Christmas.
Navidad Commercial Madness
For a couple of year my upper level classes participated in Dustin Williamson’s famous #NavidadMadness. Two years ago both Spanish 3 & 4 participated for the last 2 weeks until the break. We did it as it’s own unit, digging into the commercials and not doing anything else, we tried to do 2 sets of commercials a day. Last year I created a slideshow based on all of Dustin’s activities, and plan to do most things as a class out loud. (He added my slideshow to his Google Folder for everyone to use as well.) I also shared the whole packet on Google Classroom and with extra time, or if I am gone, students completed some of the activities.
Navidad Music Bracket
If your classes have liked doing music brackets, check out this mini Navidad themed navidad music bracket created by Laura Reyes for 2021! There is a great slideshow with embedded videos as well. Learn how to do a music bracket here.
More than Navidad
Carolina from Fun for Spanish teachers shares great resorources in these blogs posts for many winter celebrations, including Kwanzaa.
La Lotería
I know there have been many great videos since this one, but the Justino Spanish Christmas Lottery Spot – Official 2015 is by far my favorite. It is my go to Spanish 1 holiday unit. We will be spend about a week using it as a story unit, digging deeper. Anuncio para la Lotería de Navidad 2015: {free} resource pack! by Martina Bex.
Winter EBooks of Digital Freebies!
For lots of ideas that are not connected to a certian holiday, check out the #Teachmorespanish 2021 Ebook of 15 Digital winter themed Freebies.I have a free Holiday song resource with a songs from a variety of holidays included.
Plus check out the 2020 Ebook of 15 Digital winter themed Freebies! I have a free resource included with Holiday dance brain breaks.
Other fun little holiday additions for Winter Holidays in Spanish class
This is a perfect one day activity to talk about plans over break in the future tense. It is especially good, if you are trying to avoid cultural celebrations and instead just focus on your students talking about their lives.
Para Empezar – Winter Holidays
If you want to add a little bit each day, here are 3 Weeks of daily class starters or brain breaks. (It has also been added to the Year of Para Empezar, so if you have that, it is included)
Plate Sketch Game – holiday edition
A fun holiday plate sketch game the day before break, perfect if you have a short class like we do.
holiday baile viernes
If you do not have time for a unit and just want a fun brain break, check out these holiday dances for any class, since they are not even in Spanish.
White Elephant/Yankee Swap
For a couple of years in Spanish 1, I have done a version of a gift exchange in all Spanish. I have wrapped a bunch of random and goofy little gifts, enough for each person. They will all draw a number, and that is the order they get to pick. After number one goes, each person after that gets to chose from the gift pile, or steal from someone else. I have the rule that after two steals an item is frozen, unless you are the last person, who can pick any gift. Before starting we discuss the vocabulary needed (I want, give me the gift). When it is their turn, the student need to say one of these phrases in Spanish. I narrate what is happening in Spanish as we go. Many students mentioned at the end of the year that this actvty was one of their favorites of the year.
Post Winter Break – Winter Holidays in Spanish class
No Prep DIGITAL POST BREAK Activity
Many options for hybrid, virtual, or socially distanced chat post Winter break all in a Google Slides.
No Prep POST BREAK Printable FSW Activity
A very popular post break activity for Spanish teachers is this Find Someone Who. Print it before break, enjoy your time with family and boom, ready to go activity the first day back.
Los 3 Reyes Magos reading
A one day reading perfect if you come back at the end of the week and need a filler.
1st Day back from winter break
many ideas for those first days back
Winter Holidays in Spanish class Bundle
Many resources for Winter in Spanish class to save your precous time and energy. Get the Bunde Here.
**New Resources for French Class
Pre-Break FRENCH Find Someone Who
Post-Break FRENCH Find Someone Who
I wish you and yours a very blessed and relaxing holiday season. If you need me, you can find me chasing after two little boys who are really excited about all of the holiday traditions.
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Original post 11.20.17 by Allison Wienhold – most recenty updated 11.22.21
Hi. I am thrilled to do the Christmas music bracket. What is Laura Reye's blog. I am looking for the bracket handout for the students to use. I found last year's bracket document but not this year's. I appreciate your blog so much and your fabulous resources. I did your Music Madness earlier this school year with one of my classes and they really enjoyed it!!
I do not think Laura has a blog! She shared this with the Mis Clases Locas facebook group. Feel free to join and connect with others using it!