If you are looking for different activities for your classes, or ways to make it more interesting, get your students outside! These outdoor activities for Spanish class are a great way to mix things up, engage your students, and enjoy the sunshine.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Tips for Taking Students Outside
Before you head out the door, there are a few things to consider:
- Check with admin or leave word with the office before heading out to make sure they know where you are in case of emergency.
- Be aware of student allergies – take the epipen!
- Set expectations with students inside before you go out. You’ll have more of their attention that way.
- If you’re going to spread out/split up, set up a signal for how to regroup, or a time to meet.
- Have students bring a sweatshirt or jacket to sit on or wear in case it’s still dewy outside.
- You can start small. Instead of doing a whole class period outside, use it as a brain break, or a time filler at the end of class.
10 Outdoor Activities for Spanish Class
- Maze games
- Gallery walk
- Read a book
- Use sidewalk chalk
- Corre en Círculos
- Following Direction Games
- Running Dictation
- El Toro
- Walk Talk
- Ball Game
Maze Games
Grab a clipboard or something to write on and students can work individually or in pairs on these maze games. It’s an easy print and go option for you!
Gallery Walk
A gallery walk is super simple to take outside. Instead of hanging it around the room, you can tape it to the outside of the building, or on tables/benches in a courtyard space. You might want to bring a few different kinds of tape because usually what works in your classroom isn’t the same that will work on the brick! I’ve found packing tape to work out best in the past.
Read a Book
Whether you’re in the middle of a novel with your classes or just want to take your free voluntary reading time outside, reading in the sun is so pleasant. If you’re new to reading with your classes, you might like these posts to help you find options that work for your students’ levels:
- Classroom Library List
- Where to find reading materials for Spanish class
- Popular Recommendations for Readers in Spanish 1-AP
Use sidewalk chalk
Kids are kids, and sidewalk chalk is some good ol’ fashioned fun! Have students illustrate a scene from a story you’re reading (one sentence or chunk each), draw flags from Spanish-speaking countries, or just play a guessing game with vocabulary and use the chalk to keep track (like 20 questions!). Grab some to keep in your closet here.
Corre en Círculos
Corre en Círculos is one of my favorites to get students up and moving and it works great outside! You can either do like I mentioned with the gallery walk and tape it to the building or tables, or you could do the relay variation outside. There’s more space for running!
Following Direction Games
Let’s face it, sometimes they need to exercise their listening ears! Games like Simon Says and Shipwreck are great to take outside. You call out directions, they listen and follow along. For Shipwreck, I would review the calls inside before you head outside to play.
Running Dictation
Speaking of more space for running, Running Dictation also works really well outside. Learn how to play here!
El Toro
El Toro is a super fun review game, but it can get LOUD. That makes taking it outside a perfect option! Students can yell and celebrate without worrying about disrupting nearby classes.
Walk Talk
This comprehensible input activity is from Sarah Breckley and it’s exactly what it sounds like. Check out how to do this activity here!
The Ball Game
This is a SUPER simple game you can use for warm up, a speaking activity, or even a fast finisher! Here’s a quick 2-min video demoing how to play.
Outdoor Activities for Spanish Class
There’s 10 fun outdoor activities you can do with your Spanish classes when the weather cooperates. I’d love to hear what else you like to do with your classes outside – comment below and let me know!