Teaching Los Números Made Easy: 20 Fun Spanish Activities

Let’s talk about one of the most versatile and simple tools you can have in your Spanish classroom: flashcards. They’re quick to prep, easy to use, and can be adapted for a variety of games and speaking activities. Whether you’re reviewing vocabulary or looking to get your students talking, these activities will turn any lesson into a fun, engaging experience. Today, we’ll cover 10 flashcard games and 10 speaking activities that will keep your students excited and speaking Spanish!

10 Fun Flashcard Games for Your Classroom

1. Flyswatter Frenzy (Mata la Mosca Style!):
   Place flashcards on the board or a table. Call out a number or word, and students race to swat the correct flashcard with a flyswatter. This game combines vocabulary review with friendly competition!
2. Memory Match:
   Lay the flashcards face down and have students take turns flipping two at a time to find a match. The catch? They have to say the word or number in Spanish before they can claim a match.
3. Speed Round:
   Flash a card quickly in front of the class. The first student to shout the correct answer (in Spanish, of course!) earns a point. Keep it moving fast to keep everyone on their toes!
4. Flashcard Relay:
   Divide the class into teams. Place flashcards at one end of the room, and have students race one at a time to grab the card that matches the word you call out. First team to collect all their flashcards wins!
5. Flashcard Musical Chairs:
   Arrange flashcards in a circle on the floor. Play music while students walk around the circle. When the music stops, they must step on a card and say the number or word they’re standing on.
6. The Pyramid:
   Stack flashcards in a pyramid shape. As students answer correctly, they can remove a card from the bottom row. The goal? Keep the pyramid standing as long as possible while removing as many cards as they can.
7. Flashcard Bingo:
   Create bingo cards with numbers or words from the flashcard set. As you call out numbers in Spanish, students cover their cards. First to complete a row wins!
8. Pop Quiz:
   Flashcards are great for quick-fire quizzes. Have students sit in a circle and quiz each other by holding up a flashcard. The person next to them has to answer before passing it on.
9. Splat!
   In this game, spread flashcards across a table. Call out a word or number, and two students race to find the correct card and “splat” it with their hand. Fast, fun, and full of laughter!
10. Flashcard Fishing:
    Attach a paperclip to each flashcard and use a magnetic fishing pole to “catch” a card. Once caught, students must say the word aloud to keep their catch!

10 Engaging Speaking Activities

1. Partner Interviews:
   Pair students up and give each a list of questions to ask their partner using vocabulary from the flashcards. For example: “¿Cuántos años tienes?” or “¿Cuál es tu número favorito?”
2. Describe and Guess:
   One student picks a flashcard and describes it without saying the number or word. The rest of the class has to guess which card it is. This is a fun way to practice speaking and listening.
3. Hot Potato Speaking:
   Play music and pass a “hot potato” (a small ball or object) around the room. When the music stops, the student holding the object must draw a flashcard and say a full sentence using that word or number in Spanish.
4. Guess My Number:
   A student holds up a flashcard facing the class so they can see it, but not the student. They have to ask yes/no questions (in Spanish!) to figure out which number they’re holding.
5. Word Chain:
   Start with one flashcard, and have the first student say the number or word. The next student repeats that word and adds another, and so on. It’s a great memory and speaking challenge!
6. Around the World:
   Have students stand in a circle. One student holds a flashcard and says the number or word in Spanish, then passes it to the next student who has to say a sentence using that word. Continue until everyone has participated.
7. Role-Playing with Flashcards:
   Incorporate flashcards into a role-playing scenario. For example, students pretend they’re at a store buying items. They have to ask for the items using the vocabulary from the flashcards.
8. Flashcard Storytime:
   Spread flashcards on the floor and have students pick a few. They must create a short story in Spanish using the words or numbers they selected. Bonus points for creativity!
9. Flashcard Battleship:
   Draw a grid and secretly place flashcards on it. Students take turns calling out grid coordinates and guessing the flashcard. If they guess correctly, they must use the word in a sentence to earn the point.
10. Charades with Flashcards:
    One student acts out the word or number on their flashcard without speaking, while the rest of the class guesses. It’s a hilarious way to get everyone speaking Spanish and moving!