My favorite speaking activity is an A/B partner activity, but sometimes it's great to switch things up and give students actual pieces of paper
This type of speaking activity definitely requires more prep, but it can be worth it in the long run.
How it works:
Students work in partners and take turns asking each other whatever question(s) you taught them that day (or unit) and prompting their partner's answers with a picture that they pull from an envelope or baggie.
How to prep this activity:
It's easier IMO if students have one question they're asking their partner, rather than having to think about which of several questions to ask.
Decide what question students will be asking. For this example, I'm going to use "¿qué necesitas?" with school supplies vocabulary.
This particular activity would be ideal for Spanish 1, but this format of speaking activity could be used for any level.
Make sure you have clipart images for each vocabulary word students will be practicing.
If you have about 6-8 images, then make each student a baggie of clipart. If you have more images, then the partner pairs can share (read: less work for you).
How to create your clipart images in Word:
Open up a blank Word doc and insert a table with columns that are at least 2"x2".
You want the images to be large enough to easily pick up from the floor and handle.
Insert one clipart image into each box and size it so it's a little smaller than the box.
Give yourself some grace (read: margins) for when you have to cut the images out. You'll be going for speed.
Copy and paste enough clipart tables to fill the page (don't waste paper!) and print.
Now cut your images out:
If you have a paper cutter, now's the time to take that baby out. If not, grab your scissors.
Cut the images out and shove each set into a ziploc bag or envelope.
Pro tip: Print the clipart on several different colors of paper so it's easier to figure out which baggie is missing the carpeta picture when you find it on your floor after first period.
Once you're in class:
Explain to students that they will take turns asking "¿qué necesitas?" and pulling one picture from the baggie to show their partner.
That person will respond "yo necesito ___" and the vocabulary word for the clipart image.
Then just sit back and watch students speak Spanish without hardly realizing it.
Topics this activity works well with:
Just about anything with one question and a variety of different vocabulary answers.
- ¿Qué te gusta hacer? + activities vocab
- ¿Qué te gusta? + nouns vocab
- ¿Qué tiempo hace? + weather vocab
- ¿Cómo eres? + adjectives vocab
- ¿Cómo eras? + imperfect adjectives vocab
- ¿Qué haces? + activities vocab
- ¿Qué hiciste? + preterite activities vocab
- ¿Qué harás? + future activities vocab
- ¿Adónde vas? + places vocab
- ¿Qué clase tienes? + school subjects vocab
- ¿Qué comes? + food vocab
- ¿Qué haces? + reflexive verbs vocab
- ¿Qué llevas? + clothing vocab
The pros:
This gives students more autonomy and control by being able to select pictures.
It can be more engaging to have manipulatives.
The cons:
Little. pieces. of. paper. all. over. your. floor.
You have to cut out like 8539 sets of clipart. I mean sure, you can reuse the clipart baggies all day, but they won't last year to year. It will feel like 8539 sets when you're cutting them out.
Have you used an activity like this in your classroom? How did it go? Share in the comments below!
No comments
Post a Comment