Holidays in Spain Reading Activity and Sub Plan

This time of year can feel so overwhelming, and if you have to be gone for a sick day, doctor’s appointment, or have something fun planned, a sub plan can feel like one more thing on your plate. That’s why I always reach for a ready-to-go reading activity and sub plan that brings culture into the classroom with zero stress. I love to use sub days to teach a cultural lesson, and this season is the perfect opportunity to explore how holidays are celebrated around the world. If you’re looking for something meaningful and simple, this reading activity and sub plan is going to be your new favorite backup plan!

Watch the Video

Why Teach Culture to Spanish Students?

Even with novices and exploratory classes, it’s important to give them an understanding on the perspectives and cultural practices in the languages they’re studying. Without that context, our students are fish out of water when trying to interact with others!

Holidays in Spain Reading Activity & Sub Plan

Students read and discuss holiday traditions in Spain including the lottery, la Nochebuena, la Nochevieja & the grapes, as well as Día de los Reyes Magos in this print and go activity packet. The readings and activities are in English so it’s an easy option for a sub plan, even with your novice students!

Students could work individually on this, or they could jigsaw the reading and serve as experts on one of the days for a small group. If you’re not familiar with it, a jigsaw activity is when students work in groups on one section, then mix and mingle with other groups that worked on other parts of the reading.

This set of readings and activities includes:

• 3 pages of readings in English about the holidays in Spain
• 1 printable graphic organizer
• 1 printable set of comprehension questions
• All student pages (reading, organizer, comprehension questions) included digitally for use with Google Slides
• Teacher instructions for how to assign via Google Classroom
• Answer Key

Teachers say..

• “This resource was fantastic! My students so enjoyed learning about different holiday traditions in Spanish-speaking countries. Thank you so much!”
• “I used this when I was absent. I was able to put it on Google Classroom for my virtual students, and my in class students were able to do it on chromebooks. I asked questions about it the next day and could tell they learned from it.”
• “My students thought this activity was awesome! It was great learning about different traditions that are practiced in Spain!”

Add a Dash of Culture with This Easy Reading Activity and Sub Plan

Let’s be real for a second. The weeks before winter break can be absolute chaos. Between assemblies, schedule changes, and student energy levels spiking with each peppermint treat, it can be tricky to keep your classroom running smoothly. That’s where this reading activity and sub plan swoops in to save the day.

Designed with both student engagement and teacher sanity in mind, this resource is all about teaching students the magic of holiday traditions in Spain. Whether you’re out with a sub or simply need a quiet, culture-packed day, this plan is a total win. Students get to explore la Lotería de Navidad, learn why 12 grapes are eaten at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and discover the wonder of Día de los Reyes Magos.

And here’s the best part — it’s in English. So even if your students are beginners, they can access and enjoy the content without getting overwhelmed. This reading activity and sub plan makes it easy to keep the language learning train rolling without needing to prep a mountain of directions.

Flexible Enough for Any Teaching Style

Whether your students are working independently, collaborating in a jigsaw activity, or simply discussing the traditions after reading, this reading activity and sub plan fits right in. You can assign it digitally through Google Slides or print and distribute it old-school style. It’s flexible enough for subs, perfect for those “need-a-minute” teacher days, and packed with opportunities to spark curiosity about Spanish-speaking cultures.

Want to really level it up? Have students compare the holidays in Spain to their own traditions, then write a short paragraph about which one they’d love to experience and why. It’s reflective, fun, and totally adaptable to whatever your classroom needs that day.

Holidays in Spain Reading Activity & Sub Plan

Looking for more?

Check out these lesson plan ideas for the last day of class before winter break!

If you need help with your plans for when you return from break, make sure you check out this post!

Save this post for later!