Art in Spanish Class

There’s this neat overlap between history, culture, and art that we can share with our students, and this is a HUGE topic. I’m going to just share a few ideas and resources for you, but know that the sky is the limit here! Let’s talk about how to teach about art in Spanish class.

Art is one of my favorite things that my Spanish teacher taught me about. Weird, right? I was not an art kid and stopped taking art class as soon as I was no longer required to. I don’t like drawing, painting, and clay is fun, but slimy. BUT, in the months before my high school Spanish teacher took us to Spain, she made sure to teach us about the art we would see in the Prado and the Reina Sofia so we could actually appreciate it while we were there. And oh, boy! It was amazing! I loved it!!

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Books

Just a head’s up – I haven’t read all of these, but I have read books by these authors that have been amazing!! The ones I have not read myself I found recommended in a Spanish teachers’ group online, from others who have used them. It’s always a good idea to preview a book before adding it to your library with your specific classroom and learners in mind!

• Me perdí en Medellín
• Es posible soñar
• Agentes secretos y el mural de Picasso
• Frida Kahlo
• Los ojos de Goya (I just ordered this one to add to my library based off a recommendation in a FB group!)

Videos and Websites

• Picasso and the Guernica 🎨 – Beginner Spanish – Spanish Artists #1
• Beginner Series: The Life of Frida Kahlo
• Learn SPANISH through ART

Bringing Student Creativity to Life with Art in Spanish Class

If your students perk up at anything involving markers or scissors, you are not alone. Art in Spanish class is such a rich opportunity to combine culture, vocabulary, and expression all in one go. But here’s the key, it doesn’t have to be complicated or messy to be meaningful.

One idea that always brings smiles? Album cover redesigns. After listening to a Spanish-language artist or band, have students redesign the album art using what they learned about the artist’s message, style, and country of origin. They title it in Spanish, write a few lines to explain their concept, and boom, you have authentic creativity and language practice ready for display.

Another favorite? Emoji self-portraits inspired by Latin American art styles. Students create a character using bold lines or surrealist shapes, add emojis to represent their personality or mood, and label it all in Spanish. It’s quirky, it’s current, and they love it.

Activities and Resources for Teaching Art in Spanish Class

Virtual Field Trip

One option to explore many different artists is to do a virtual field trip. I love virtual field trips! You can use them for sub plans, to start off a unit, or to fill in where you might need another day. Learn more about how I like to set up virtual field trips in my blog post here.

Click here to download the virtual field trip to explore artists in the Spanish-speaking world.

I have created 2 virtual field trips that work great with art. One is set up to introduce many different artists to students, while the other focuses on musicians. Both include a variety of styles and artists from around the Spanish-speaking world!

Spanish-Speaking Artists Research Project

Research projects are a great way for students to learn about a bunch of different artists and then share the information with their classmates. In this research project, students follow the very clear and organized template to present their work. These also make a great bulletin board when they’re finished!

The research project includes templates with 40 different artists already filled in, as well as a blank template for students to choose and add their own person of interest to research. The artists included are:

• Antonio Berni
• El Bosco
• Fernando Botero
• Santiago Calatrava 
• Teófilo Castillo
• Salvador Dalí
• Frida Kahlo
• Francisco “Pancho” Fierro
• Raquel Forner
• Cesar Fortuny
• Carmen Lomas Garza
• Antoni Gaudí 
• Adrián Gómez
• Francisco Goya
• El Greco
• Oswaldo Guayasamin
• Carolina Herrera (designer)
• María Izquierdo
• Wifredo Lam
• Juan Lepiani
• Roberto Mamani Mamani
• Quinquela Martín
• Joan Miró
• Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
• Francisco Oller
• José Clemente Orozco
• Pablo Picasso
• José Guadelupe Posada
• Martín Ramirez
• Diego Rivera
• José Sabogal
• David Siqueiros
• Xul Solar
• Joaquín Sorolla 
• Rufino Tamayo
• Rafael Tufiño
• Remedios Varo
• Diego Velázquez
• Patssi Valdez
• Francisco de Zurbarán

Since this project is offered in English AND Spanish, it is perfect for any level Spanish class. It is great for a day with a substitute teacher since students can lead themselves through the project! Click here to download the pre-made project template.

Learn about Picasso

Another great option includes a study of a famous artist – Picasso! This is a great activity for your novice students as they complete a short reading and comprehension activity, then create art of their own! With the Roll a Picasso sheet, students roll a die to determine the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose they’ll use on their portraits. It’s super fun!

They can also use the Color, Cut, and Build a Picasso sheets instead. Have your students color and cut out the included pieces, then glue onto the provided papers. This is another great way for students to show their creativity! Click here to download this set of activities to learn about Picasso in your classes.

Simple Ways to Keep Art in Spanish Class Meaningful

If time is tight (because it always is), keep it simple with mini art analysis activities. Choose a painting from someone like Botero, Izquierdo, or Rivera. Ask students to describe what they see using vocabulary from current units, colors, emotions, people, settings. Even novice students can say so much when the art is engaging.

And if you’re teaching online or need sub plans, try an interactive art scavenger hunt. Send students to a virtual museum with a task list in Spanish. Can they find a portrait? Something with an animal? Something that shows a celebration?

With just a little planning, art in Spanish class becomes more than a filler. It becomes a pathway to connection, comprehension, and culture. Let your students create, interpret, and reflect, because sometimes, the most unforgettable lessons don’t come from a worksheet. They come from what they make.

More Ways to Teach Art in Spanish Class

What else do you do to include art in your units? I’d love to hear about lessons and activities you’ve done with your students. Comment below and let me know!

You might also like these posts for more art resources:

• Spanish Art Vocabulary
• Simple Art Project Ideas in Spanish Class

Looking for more?

Check out this blog post on lessons and activities you can use during your Spanish cultures class!

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