Spanish Culture Class Resources

Have you been tasked with a class on Spanish culture? These classes can be SO fun to teach because you get to explore different aspects of culture with your students, but they can also be overwhelming. Today, I wanted to share a round up of resources and ideas for your Spanish culture class.

Please note that in this blog post I’m choosing to focus on resources that share about culture in both Spanish and English. Sometimes this is an upper level class that is all done in the target language. Sometimes it’s a class offered in middle school to get students excited about the years ahead. Either way, I have ideas for you!

Spanish Music Activities

What would a culture class be without music? I’ve shared before about one of my favorite classroom routines – Música Miércoles! The neat thing about this one is that you can do it in the target language or in the shared language. Students can hear a variety of genres and musical styles throughout your class. Click here to read more about this activity!

Another great option for including music in your classroom is to do a bracket style tournament. Many teachers do one of these in October or in March, but you can really do it whenever! The gist is that students listen to 2 songs, then vote for their favorites. This will continue until there’s an overall winner. Click here to see more ideas and resources for hosting a bracket tournament in your classroom!

If you only have your students for a quarter, you might feel pressed for time to add a daily routine or a larger competition. If that’s the case, you might consider a virtual field trip to explore musicians and artists from Spanish-speaking countries!

Spanish Food Activities

If you’re teaching a culture class, you can’t skip the food! It’s one of the best parts. And while you might decide to save the actual cooking for your Spanish club, you know you have to explore the variety somehow! This interactive map includes 28 markers with a mix of info, pictures, and videos. Each marker includes the food’s name, and some background. Great for novices or introducing your students to a variety of foods in the Spanish-speaking world! Click here to download.

If you are thinking about cooking with your classes, check out this blog post of recipes you can do with your students, OR make ahead and bring in to sample with them. Totally up to you and the space you have available!

Spanish Culture Class Reading Activities

I love to create cultural reading activities for my students because it’s a great option for students to learn about culture in a simple, comprehensible way! I created these Spanish cultural reading comprehension activities as a fun way to integrate our reading comprehension skills while we learn about culture around the world. Click here to see the blog post for more!

Do a Research Project for Spanish Culture Class

When I taught World Cultures, one of my favorite things to do was include a research project. Students were able to take ownership and then share what they learned with classmates! We did a few different formats. These included posters, digital presentations, even creating our own virtual field trips and then “taking” them!

Whether students are working in a printable or digital format, here are some great options for your students!

• Holidays and celebrations
• Spanish-Speaking Countries (poster)
• Create your own virtual tour of the Spanish-speaking countries (digital)
• Explore a Spanish-speaking country (digital)
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Afro Latinos Famosos
• Famous Women throughout history
• Animal Research Project

Take a Virtual Field Trip

 A virtual field trip is a great way to introduce a country unit, explore culture, and fill out your units! One of my favorite things about virtual field trips is that you can incorporate a ton of information while students learn and it’s all connected to the geography! Click here to learn more about how to take your students on a virtual field trip with an interactive map.

Learn about a Spanish-Speaking Country

Sometimes you want to do a deeper dive into a particular country rather than skimming the surface. Check out these blog posts and resources to help you plan your lessons on a specific Spanish-speaking country!

• Argentina
• Bolivia
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Mexico *even more specific, check out my blog post on Oaxaca here!
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Puerto Rico
• Spain
• Uruguay
• Venezuela

Make sure you check out these free resources as you’re planning!

Take a virtual field trip to the Dominican Republic with your students! Click here to download

Have your students explore holidays and celebrations in the Spanish-speaking world with this free research project. Click here!

Listening to music with your culture classes? Whether you do one song a day or choose to do a unit, this print and go sheet is a great resource to add as your students share their opinions. Check out this free response sheet here!

Save this post for later!

Art and Visual Culture

Spanish-speaking cultures have given the world some of the most iconic and expressive art. From bold murals to surrealist masterpieces, there is so much to explore and you do not need to be an art teacher to do it. A simple visual analysis activity can spark amazing conversation and build vocabulary at the same time.

Introduce your students to works by artists like Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Fernando Botero, or Oswaldo Guayasamín. Show one image at a time and ask students to describe what they see in Spanish using shape, color, and emotion words. You can guide them to notice details or even guess the message behind the artwork.

Want to take it further? Let them create a mini gallery walk. Each student chooses one Spanish-speaking artist and creates a digital or print display about their work. This can include a brief artist bio, a sample artwork, and a short description in Spanish. Your classroom turns into a mini museum, and they learn through creativity and connection.

Use Pop Culture to Bridge the Gap

Sometimes your students will connect more quickly with pop culture than with history or geography. That is totally okay. In fact, it is something you can use to your advantage. Bring in short clips, interviews, or social media posts from current actors, athletes, or influencers from Spanish-speaking countries.

Try a “Who’s Who” warm-up. Show a mystery photo or short video and have students guess where the person is from based on context clues. Add a simple research task where students find someone from a Spanish-speaking country that shares their hobby or interest. They can present to the class or write a paragraph about their discovery all while practicing research skills and using the language in a way that feels real.

Here You Go!

Spanish culture class can be one of the most vibrant and engaging parts of your teaching year and with these Spanish Culture Class Resources, you’re all set to make it unforgettable! From toe-tapping tunes to tasty traditions, meaningful readings to virtual adventures, your students will explore the Spanish-speaking world in exciting, interactive ways. Pick your favorites, mix and match, and let the cultural fun begin!