This time of year is the perfect moment to incorporate gratitude into your Spanish classroom. Gratitude is such a powerful tool for boosting happiness and our overall mental health. We could all stand to focus on gratitude a bit more in our daily lives making this a worthwhile topic that will receive ZERO pushback from admin or parents. Did you know that the reason practicing gratitude is so beneficial for our mental health is because those thoughts actually trigger the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Crazy right!?
I also love this for Spanish class because we can easily reflect on what we are grateful for in the target language through teaching functional chunks. I’m sure you don’t need any more convincing that teaching about gratitude will give your Spanish classroom happy vibes this November.
Instead of just your typical “doy gracias por” lesson plan… how about a fresh take?
Here’s my spin on this topic that also combines Latin American culture!
It’s a two-part lesson series I designed for my heritage Spanish class (this should take your class about 150 min). This is not for novices, so you want your students’ proficiency level to be at least intermediate in order to complete these lessons.
History of Pan Dulce & Mexican Hot Chocolate Reading Maze Worksheets in Spanish
To begin, students learn about the history of pan dulce and Mexican hot chocolate. We highlight the hot chocolate brand Abuelita in this lesson. The non-fiction texts are in a reading maze worksheets which is an engaging way for students to explore the history.
Lesson Steps:
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- Reading comprehension: Students will read the text and navigate through the maze while answering comprehension questions. This interactive format keeps them engaged and encourages critical thinking.
- Differentiation: The resource includes two versions of the text – basic and advanced – allowing teachers to cater to different reading levels within the classroom. (Note: Basic is at intermediate level and advanced is advanced).
Mexican Hot Chocolate & Concha Gratitude Craft & Bulletin Board
Now that students understand the history of this delicious Mexican treat, here comes the fun part! It’s time for a hands-on craft project that combines creativity and meaningful reflection. This is where the gratitude part comes in.
Lesson Steps:
- Gratitude List: Students will fill in a list of what they are grateful for, organized alphabetically. This helps them think critically about their blessings and serves as a brainstorm for the next step.
Free Download:
Click here to download this gratitude list worksheet
- Heart Creations: They will now write their top gratitude items on heart shapes, promoting personal expression
- Crafting Fun: Students will color, cut, and glue together the Mexican hot chocolate, concha, and hearts, allowing for a tactile learning experience.
- Optional 3D version: An additional page is included for students to write a short paragraph about their gratitude, adding depth to their project.
Once completed, these projects can be showcased on a bulletin board using the included letters to spell out “LLENA DE GRATIDUD” (Full of Gratitude). This not only beautifies the classroom but also serves as a constant reminder of the importance of gratitude. This bulletin board display will seriously impress your colleagues and admin! 🙂
Teaching gratitude in Spanish class can be a fun and enriching experience with the right resources. The Mexican hot chocolate and concha craft not only fosters creativity but also connects students to the target culture. The reading maze worksheets provide written input in an engaging format.
Talk about an impactful lesson series – here we have combined gratitude, comprehensible input, cultural appreciation, and social-emotional learning all in one!
Where are these resources available?
These resources are included in Linaje Year One (a full curriculum for heritage Spanish speakers).
You can also purchase these resources here:
Holiday Resources Growing Bundle
I hope your students walk out of your classroom a little taller after these lessons feeling a little bit lighter and llena de gratitud. 🙂
What other ways do you incorporate social emotional learning into Spanish Class? Send us a note- I would love to hear from you!
I think a daily gratitude journal challenge would be an amazing thing to do in heritage Spanish class for the days or weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break.
And if you want to really go the extra mile on this series, you could bring in pan dulce and hot chocolate for your students! 😋
Looking for more Thanksgiving Bulletin Board Ideas? Check out these ideas.
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