Do you find that students learn their numbers in Spanish for a quiz, and then quickly forget? Do they come across a number in a reading and pause or say it in English? Do you need ideas for teaching numbers to older students? And are you looking for a way to make this simple topic fun for both you and your students?
How to make numbers fun and practical
First things first: Don’t stop at 1-20 like the book suggests. You have to make language practical and useful in order for students to engage. Realistically, most of my students will use their Spanish while traveling, so they need to be able to discuss time, dates, and prices.
They need to learn 0-100 from the beginning.
However, we know that students need time to acquire the language, so you’ll have to teach 0-100 in chunks to maximize retention and learning. Go at the pace of your students; if they need more practice, add in more games, but typically, middle school students can learn a chunk of 20 numbers in Spanish in 2 days (about 80 minutes) once they learn the pattern. Below are my lesson plans. Feel free to steal and use these ideas! Then share your experience in the comments section!
Activities for Middle Schoolers
Day 1 (40 mins.)
1. Count together as a class in Spanish from 1-10.
2. Physical stretches: 10 jumping jacks, 7 disco arms, 3 claps, 5 jazz hands, etc.
Depending on the class, you can let students pick the next “move” (within reason) and do it as a group. Count each move in Spanish as you do it. This gets kids moving and laughing. It’s ok that they don’t know how to say the motions in Spanish because the goal is the counting in the target language.
3. Oral questioning: Teach the word ¿Cuántos? (how many), and ask them questions, making sure to stay below 10.
¿Cuántas chicas hay en la clase? ¿Cuántos chicos hay? ¿Cuántos días hay en la semana? (point to a poster) ¿Cuántas clases hay en un día? ¿Cuántos libros tengo? (use props!)
4. Notes: Once your students can say the numbers, show them the spelling and ask them to take notes. Add on 11-20.
5. How many…? questions using numbers in Spanish from 0-20.
Homework:
Day 2 (40 minutes)
1. Correct homework
2. Introduce the concept of listening practice in Spanish so students can complete part of this activity. Students can either do this independently on their own devices, or you can play it for the whole class.
3. White board races: Call out random numbers while students write down what they hear on their board and hold it up as quickly as possible. At first everyone should participate individually as an informal assessment, but then turn it into a competitive game by tables. The first correct team gets 2 points and everyone else who is correct gets one.
4. Teacher vs. Student Game: For this game, write the numbers 1-20 on the board. Tap a number and say its name. If you are correct, the whole class repeats, but if you’re wrong, everyone stays silent. If they all stay silent, the class gets a point, but if anyone repeats, you get the point. First team to 5 wins!
Set clear expectations at the beginning of this game. Inevitably there will be one goofball that gets it wrong on purpose because s/he thinks it’s funny.
5. Homework: Study 1-20
Day 3 (80 minutes)
1. Quiz on 1-20
2. Students complete listening activity C independently on their device as they finish.
3. Teach numbers 20-40 with call and repeat. Review ¿Cuántos? with more questions.
4. Bingo for numbers in Spanish from 0-40. Pass out blank bingo boards in plastic page protectors. With a dry-erase marker, ask students to create a board for 0-20 and pass out bingo markers. Then they can make new boards with 20-40 and we play again.
Homework:
Day 4 (40 minutes)
1. Correct homework
2. Sport Stats :
This is a real-life activity relatable to students, so they really enjoy it! Verbally ask students questions in Spanish like “How many points does Texas have?” or “Which team has 24 points?” and for higher level students “How many points were scored altogether in the UNC/USC game?” You can use cognates and simplified language for beginners. ¿Cuál grupo tiene 24 puntos? ¿Cuántos puntos hay en total para UNC/USC? etc.
3. Listening activity D
4. Around the world game for numbers 1-40. Create flashcards or a google presentation. Students compete 1 on 1 to say the number first. In my class, you have to beat 6 people in a row to win a prize because students very rarely make it all the way “around the world.”
Homework: Study for quiz on 20-40
Day 5 (40 minutes)
1. Quiz for 20-40.
2. Introduce 40-60 with point and repeat.
3. Flyswatter game (Project the numbers on the board and divide the class into 2 teams. Call a number and first person to smack the correct answer with their flyswatter wins.)
Homework:
Day 6 (40 minutes)
1. Correct homework
2. Numbers tic-tac-toe: Instead of writing X’s and O’s in the boxes, students replace the word with a number and try to beat their partner with three in a row. It includes an answer key so students can check their work.
3. Buzz: Students line up shoulder-to-shoulder and begin counting in Spanish. You choose a multiple that students cannot say (usually 7). Each student counts out loud and if they wind up with a multiple of 7 or a number with a 7 in it, they must say “Buzz” instead of their number. If they forget, they are out.
4. Homework: Study for quiz on numbers 40-60
Are you looking for more ideas to teach numbers to older students?
