My Favorite First Week Activities for Spanish Class
The first week of Spanish class sets the tone for the rest of the year. It’s your chance to build relationships, establish expectations, and start creating a classroom culture where students feel comfortable and excited to learn. The good news? You don’t need to jump straight into grammar to have a successful first week. Here are some of my favorite tried-and-true activities that are both meaningful and fun.
Goals for the First Week
Before diving into specific activities, I always keep a few key goals in mind:
- Build classroom community and student relationships
- Set clear expectations and routines
- Begin using Spanish in authentic and supportive ways
- Keep activities light, fun, and interactive
1. Name Games with Spanish Structures
Start learning names while introducing simple Spanish language structures like “Me llamo…” and “¿Cómo te llamas?”
- Try tossing a soft ball and saying your name in Spanish.
- Create a rhythm or chant using “Se llama…” to remember names.
2. Introduce Classroom Commands Early
Use the first few days to introduce key commands like “levántate,” “escucha,” “repite,” and “siéntate.” Use Total Physical Response (TPR) and games like Simón Dice to make it fun and memorable.
📌 Check out my full post on Essential Spanish Classroom Commands and How to Teach Them for more ideas!
3. “Find Someone Who” Activity
This is a fun and low-pressure speaking activity to get students moving and talking:
- Prepare a simple grid with prompts like “Find someone who has a pet,” “Find someone who likes pizza.”
- Students must walk around asking and answering questions in Spanish.
You can also adjust this for partner interviews or whole class icebreakers.
4. Cognate Scavenger Hunt
Help students build confidence by recognizing Spanish-English cognates:
- Post word cards around the room with obvious cognates (hospital, actor, animal).
- Have students walk around and make educated guesses based on what they see.
- Discuss how Spanish is more accessible than they might think!
Be sure to check out my cognate vocabulary available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
5. “All About Me” Mini Posters or Slides
Have students create a simple poster or slide in Spanish using beginner-friendly structures:
- Me llamo…
- Me gusta…
- No me gusta…
- Soy…
They can present to the class or do a gallery walk to learn about each other.
6. Interest Inventories in Spanish
Give students a short, fun survey to get to know their interests while using basic Spanish:
- Favorite food
- Weekend activities
- Pets
- Hobbies
You can use this info to personalize future lessons and vocabulary themes.
Final Thoughts
Your first week of Spanish class is a golden opportunity to create a welcoming, structured, and student-centered environment. Focus on connection, consistency, and small wins in the target language.
Want more first-week inspiration?
- Read my guide on How to Structure a Spanish Unit
- Explore No-Prep Speaking Activities to keep things engaging and low-stress
- Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store and YouTube channel for more resources!
What’s your favorite first week activity? Let me know in the comments!