More ¡Corre en Círculos! Variations

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¡Corre en Círculos! is an activity to review material with your students that gets them up out of their seats and practicing the content! It’s great for middle and high school Spanish classes – your secondary students will love it! Here are 3 ¡Corre en Círculos! Variations you can use in your classroom!

I LOVE using this activity in my classroom. I probably do it at least once a chapter because it can be used in several different ways, to practice several different things. It’s excellent because it gets students up and moving out of their chairs while being focused on practicing the language. Because of this, it’s perfect for those days you just need a minute, or if you’ve lost your voice and JUST CAN’T. Engaged, independent students, practicing concepts they need to work on? That’s the best kind of “teacher break” there is!

New to this activity? Check out my post on ¡Corre en Círculos! here for a walkthrough of what it is and how to use it!

Here are some variations on ways I use ¡Corre en Círculos! in my classroom!

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Watch the Video – ¡Corre en Círculos! Variations

¡Corre en Círculos! Variations

Relay

Print the ¡Corre en Círculos! mini (tutorial here) and enough sets for each group of students to have one. Students will race from one end of the classroom to the other (or take them outside, even better!) to be the first team to correctly complete their loop.

Set Up and How to Play:

Split students into groups
Make enough copies of the puzzle for each group (It helps to have them in different colors!)
Put the cards in one location and the groups in another
Students take turns going to the cards and grabbing the correct card
They’ve won when they are the first to complete the loop correctly!

Race the Clock

This fast paced review would be a great fast finisher at the end of class!

Set Up and How to Play:

Make copies of the mini puzzle for each student
Set a timer for 5 min and race to see who can complete
Gradually reduce the time, shorter and shorter!

The Hands and the Brain

This version reminds me of one of my favorite ways to play Quizlet Live!

Set Up and How to Play:

Make copies of the mini puzzle for each pair of students
The standing student directs the seated student
The seated student can only move pieces when directed!

Silent Scoot

Need a quieter review activity that still gets students moving? Enter: Silent Scoot. It’s perfect when you want all the benefits of movement and engagement… without the classroom turning into a fútbol stadium.

Here’s how it works:
Set up your ¡Corre en Círculos! cards around the room, just like usual. But instead of calling out answers or working in teams, students grab a clipboard and rotate silently from card to card. Think of it like musical chairs meets task cards but ninja-style.

They’ll answer on their own papers, move at the sound of a timer or bell, and get a chance to show off their independent skills. This version is amazing for sneaky formative assessment and perfect for days when your voice is gone or your patience is on vacation. Bonus points: It builds focus and stamina!

Mix & Match Madness

Okay, this one is for your wild cards the students who crave a little chaos with their conjugations. Mix & Match Madness takes your classic ¡Corre en Círculos! cards and tosses in a twist: nothing is in order, and every card has a decoy answer just to keep students on their toes.

How to make the magic happen:

Mix up the cards so there’s no clear path
Add “trick” options that seem right but… aren’t
Students must double-check their reasoning before moving forward

This version works wonders for critical thinking and pushes students to slow down and actually read. It’s a total win when you want to dial up the challenge while still keeping the energy high.

Which variation are you most excited to try? Do you have any questions for me? Drop a comment below and let me know!