Examples of SPAN 1010 In-Class Exercises

Examples of SPAN 1010 In-Class Exercises

As stated in my Teaching Philosophy, I have a particular interest in developing kinesthetic learning opportunities in my classroom. I find that not only am I able to reach a broader range of learning types, but that all students benefit from having at least some kinesthetic exercises.

Market Day

*actual materials

In this exercise, students use life-like fake foods (sometimes real foods if it easily organized) and fake money in order to simulate a market experience in the classroom. Students are divided between customers and vendors. Both vendors and customers are seeking the best deals possible. Customers are given grocery lists or instructions to purchase food to make soup, sandwiches, fruit salad, breakfast and more. Students practice basic conversation, basic conjugation, and food and number vocabulary. The hands on application appeals to kinesthetic learners and the exercise is enjoyable for all learners.

Ball Toss ForBasic Conjugation Practice

*actual materials: soft “bouncy balls” that light up when bounced.

Basic conjugation drills can be repetitive and traditionally benefit visual and aural learners. By incorporating a ball toss into the basic conjugation drill, kinesthetic learners are better able to engage with the exercise. Students are separated into small groups and given a ball. The teacher calls out a verb to be conjugated, for example hablar. Students then go through the conjugation starting with yo and ending with ellos/ellas. Students are encouraged to correct and help one another. Typically, during the first round students can have books and notes open. In the second round or in a review round the next day, books and notes are closed so students get an idea of how well they know the material. The second round or review round acts as a low-stakes quiz. My own ongoing reflective teaching observation/experiment reveals preliminary results that show higher levels of retention when using the ball toss exercise than traditional conjugation drill exercises alone.

Family Tree Game

In this activity, students are separated into “families”. Each student receives a card with clues on it. They must then circulate around the room using their clues and asking for relevant information from other students in order to find their family members. They must then draw their family tree on the board working as a team. Students usually find this activity so much fun that they request several rounds. The exercise encourages them to practice basic grammar and vocabulary including ser/estar, ¿de dóndeeres? ¿Quétegusta? ¿Cuántosañostienes? Etc. This makes it an excellent exercise to introduce early in the semester. Students gain confidence by being able to apply the material they have learned so far and see that they can already begin to use the language in a simulated real-life situation.