kids Archives - Homeschool Spanish Academy 1-on-1 Online Spanish Lessons. Get to Spanish fluency on your time. Mon, 09 Jan 2023 15:23:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://www.spanish.academy/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/cropped-Favicon_V_1-32x32.png kids Archives - Homeschool Spanish Academy 32 32 9 Activities To Help Kids Develop Creative Thinking Skills https://www.spanish.academy/blog/9-activities-to-help-kids-develop-creative-thinking-skills/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/9-activities-to-help-kids-develop-creative-thinking-skills/#respond Sun, 05 Jun 2022 13:16:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=28095 Are you on the lookout for some creative thinking activities for your kids? Look no further. We searched far and wide to bring you some activities and games to help your kids develop creative thinking skills.  Games, worksheets, exercises, ideas—we got a bit of everything to kindle your children’s minds and bring out their critical […]

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Are you on the lookout for some creative thinking activities for your kids? Look no further. We searched far and wide to bring you some activities and games to help your kids develop creative thinking skills. 

Games, worksheets, exercises, ideas—we got a bit of everything to kindle your children’s minds and bring out their critical and creative side. 

We recommend doing these every day and keeping a journal of the results to track your kids’ development better.

So, here are nine activities to help your kids develop creative thinking skills! 

At Homeschool Spanish Academy, our elementary program combines high-energy, engaging Spanish instruction with real human connection and an expert-certified curriculum to build a magical world for your child to enter and enjoy while learning. Sign up for a free trial Spanish class today. ➡


TABLE OF CONTENTS


What Are Creative Thinking Skills?

Let’s take a moment first to understand what creative thinking skills are and why they are essential.

Creative thinking refers to the skills and abilities one uses to come up with a solution to everyday problems. For example, imagine that you want to lift something heavy but you can’t. Your creative thinking skills would tell you to think outside the box and use a lever. 

In other words: work smarter, not harder. 

These skills are often appreciated and needed in businesses and will help your kids come up with brilliant answers and solutions in school.

Creative thinking skills often require experimentation, lateral thinking, mind mapping, curiosity, the ability to compare and oppose views, among other things. 

These skills are regularly motivated by STEAM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

9 Kid-Friendly Activities for Developing Creative Thinking Skills 

1. Crafts

Think of LEGOs, building blocks, tinker toys, pottery, knitting, and even playdough. Any toys that require your kids to create, build, and innovate, not just play with or move action figures, will force them to think creatively. Also, many of these require problem-solving.

Remember, many of these toys come with predetermined sets, and your kids might want to use them. But encourage them to create freely. In no time, they will show you just how creative they are! 

Ask them to build vehicles, bridges, towers, buildings, tiny furniture, a raft, and a catapult! Try combining their toys with things they can find at home: bags, yarn, coins, rubber bands, and spaghetti.

Crafts are beneficial to high school and elementary students, and research has found that they are good for people’s mental health.

Craft, woo, postcard (…) I © Piqsels/Flickr

Recommended: 12 Inspirational Earth Day Activities for Elementary Kids in Spanish

2. Jigsaw Puzzles

Unlike crafts, with puzzles and jigsaw puzzles there’s only one possible outcome: completion—and it’s based on the image provided on the box. 

While there’s little room for innovation, puzzles are highly beneficial for problem-solving. 

Obvious, huh? But there’s more!

Puzzles improve people’s attention span, short-term memory, mental speed, and spatial awareness. What’s more, they’re an excellent meditation tool and stress reliever and they’re fantastic for connecting with others.

Experts on memory loss and mental health often recommend these for people of all ages.

Your kids can start children’s puzzles. You can find four or five-piece puzzles, ten, or 20-piece puzzles, and slowly increase the difficulty. Who knows? Maybe in a few years, you and your kids will put together one of those 1000-piece all-white “impossible” puzzles.

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting ➡

3. Sports

Maybe your kids can’t sit still. Are they the type who likes to run, jump, shout, and climb constantly? 

Then you should look into sports.

Baseball, football, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, parkour, and martial arts—there are plenty to choose from, and they require some type of problem-solving and creative skills. 

Research has shown that sports and any type of physical activity are great ways for kids to express themselves and build self-confidence.

Traditional sporting activities are also instrumental in developing motor skills and reflexes, and, naturally, are beneficial to your kids’ health and strengthen their children’s immune systems.

Women in sport playing football I © Wikimedia Commons

Related content: Know the Field! Soccer Positions in Spanish

4. Music and Musical Instruments

Similar to sports, music and playing musical instruments can activate many of your kids’ developmental and creative skills. In fact, in 2016, scientists from the University of Southern California discovered a link between music in early childhood and accelerated brain development.

Additionally, music improves fine and large motor skills, language skills, management of emotions, self-confidence, literacy, patience, discipline, and creativity in general.

5. Cooking

Crack the eggs, roll the dough, and cut the vegetables. All these activities can significantly boost your kids’ creative and developmental skills. Cooking, in general, can teach children basic math concepts and essential language skills, as well as fine and large motor skills. Other benefits include: improved reading skills, introducing children to scientific concepts such as temperature, increased focus, attention, etc.

As for creativity, if you let them roam free, soon your kids will start making their own dishes. Who knows! Maybe you got a little chef in your house, waiting to find its potential.

Handpicked just for you: The Easy Guide to Food and Drink Vocabulary in Spanish

6. Reading and Writing

This is a no-brainer, huh? Reading and writing skills are instrumental to kids’ success in school.

Additionally, reading and writing can help your kids develop cognitive skills like remembering stuff and how to concentrate and pay attention. It can also improve language skills.

Children have the unbridled capacity to imagine things and dream, so it’s the perfect time to introduce them to literature and creative writing. Also, if you take the time to read aloud to your kids and if they see you reading as well, you’re cultivating a lifelong love of reading in your spare time. Author and educator Jim Trelease once wrote: “Every time we read to a child, we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain.”

As for writing, it’s a great stress reliever, and it improves focus, discipline, and hand-eye coordination. In addition, it stimulates the brain and boosts creativity.

Check out: 11 Books About Spring in Spanish for Kids

7. Chess

Chess is one of the oldest board games and strategy games globally. Historical texts suggest that people played a form of chess in the 7th century in ancient Persia, and its modern version has many creative and developmental benefits.

Kids who play chess often develop and strengthen their logical, analytical, and creative skills and concentration, and memory. Chess also develops problem-solving skills—it’s not easy to take the king! Additionally, playing the game helps to build planning skills, precaution, and anticipation. Much like in life, in chess, your children will have to plan their next move carefully.

Ajedrez niños juegos I © Pixabay

You might need: The Ultimate Guide to Chess Vocabulary in Spanish

8. Video Games

Yes! Video games! Playing video games is not as bad as we might think.

Playing video games increases mental cognition, helps develop motor skills, can teach kids leadership skills, heightens one’s reflexes, improves hand-eye coordination and children’s problem-solving abilities, etc. Also, we recommend you look into educational video games. Not every game is violent, and not every game is about blowing up stuff. Many games are as interactive as a jigsaw puzzle. Think of Tetris, Portal, and Minecraft.

9. Language Learning

We’re leaving the best for last!

Language learning can immensely boost your kids’ creativity and creative thinking skills! Just imagine, they’ll have access to tons of new words and new ways to connect them and build a sentence. Additionally, they will learn about new cultures from countries around the world. When we learn a new language, we are introduced to new ideas and concepts, customs and history, art and culture. Also, we have access to words that don’t exist in our language!

The science is clear—learning another language will have a direct positive impact on your child’s academic achievement. Compared to those without an additional language, bilingual children have improved reading, writing, and math skills, and they generally score higher on standardized tests. Sign up for a free trial Spanish class today. ➡

Sign Your Kids to Spanish Class and Boost Their Creativity!

Did you know that behind only English, Mandarin, and Hindi, Spanish is the most spoken language on the planet? More than 500 million people speak Spanish, and it’s the official language of 21 countries, including countries in Africa and Asia. So sign your kid today for a free class, and they’ll be speaking Spanish in no time. And yes, we offer flexible programs for preschoolers and kids in elementary school.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

Sharon K, Parent of 3

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

Cindy D, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

Erica P. Parent of 1

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Get more kid-friendly educational content!

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Awesome Spanish Books for Kids in Elementary https://www.spanish.academy/blog/spanish-books-elementary/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/spanish-books-elementary/#respond Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=3267 The best books to learn Spanish for elementary kids not only teach the language but motivate, inspire, and ignite the imagination. Elementary students love to discover the world through books—it’s where they get first impressions and are introduced to new, interesting concepts.  Spanish learning books are proven to draw students’ attention and keep them engaged.  […]

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The best books to learn Spanish for elementary kids not only teach the language but motivate, inspire, and ignite the imagination.

Elementary students love to discover the world through books—it’s where they get first impressions and are introduced to new, interesting concepts. 

Spanish learning books are proven to draw students’ attention and keep them engaged. 

In this blog post, I will tell you all about eight awesome books to learn Spanish for elementary kids. 

Join me as I explore the book’s theme and author, tell you where to purchase it, and share some activities you can enjoy with your Spanish students as you read together!


Table of Contents:


Using Books To Learn Spanish for Elementary Kids

Using books to learn Spanish is a successful strategy for supporting young language learners.

Spanish books for elementary-level students usually contain compelling storylines and vivid illustrations. They are ideal for repetition of sounds and words, character contextualization, use of numbers, identifying shapes, and for teaching valuable lessons. 

As you support your children in their Spanish journey, you need ingenious methods to keep them motivated, and books do just the trick in a diverse way. 

Elementary Spanish books are available in a variety of styles. You can find literary classics, poetry, biographies, and interactive storytelling. 

As a parent or educator, when you read with your students, you’re able to ask questions, point to concepts, and have the children read and say vocabulary words in a real-world context. This is ideal for enhancing sentence building and reading comprehension. 

With Spanish books, children start to build even more vocabulary and start to get familiarized with cultural norms, while getting exposed to constant Spanish immersion. 

Here are my trusted recommendations for the best books to learn Spanish for elementary kids. 

1. The Little Prince (El principito) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

books to learn Spanish for elementary kids

El principito is an essential book for elementary students. Reading this masterpiece in Spanish is guaranteed to elevate your child’s imagination and language skills to a whole new level. 

It’s no secret that the inspirational tale of El principito has traveled the world and conquered the hearts of many readers. It’s a highly entertaining story with lessons on morals that come in handy throughout all stages of life. 

Being one of the best books to learn Spanish for elementary kids, El principito, tells the story of a little prince who visits several planets and has different observations about humanity in each visit. It’s a conversation starter for talking with kids about friendship, love, loss, loneliness, and other emotions.

I would recommend this Spanish book to children seven years or older. It has an advanced reading level and is highly supportive for language students to understand social scenarios, and reflections. 

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Spanish Classroom Activities

2. Everything Is a Song: Poetic Anthology (Todo es una canción: Antología poética) by Alma Flor Ada

todo es canción - book cover

Todo es canción is by bilingual education advocate Alma Flor Ada. Her educational anthology is a collection of poems ideal for enriching vocabulary on body parts, numbers, food, vowels, nature, and more. 

The book targets readers from seven to ten years old. The poems are well written and easy to read. Having them divided into categories and themes gives you many possibilities for combining this book with specific vocabulary lessons. 

It also enables young students to understand the dynamics of poetry in Spanish as the author includes a small introduction to the literary art form. 

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Spanish Classroom Activities

3. Traditional Games (Juegos tradicionales) by María Angélica Ovalle

Juegos tradicionales - book cover

Juegos tradicionales is one of the best books to learn Spanish for elementary kids. It’s so diverse and result-driven, that you can even use it for preschoolers and children of all ages. 

The book is a compilation of Spanish children’s games. It has fantastic visual content and encourages kids to practice conversation as they go through the rules of each game together. 

These games are productive and make the perfect opportunity to take your Spanish classroom outside. It supports educators in teaching Spanish students commands, and verbs. 

Get the Book

Spanish Classroom Activities

4. Xochitl and the Flowers (Xochitl, la niña de las flores) by Jorge Argueta

books to learn Spanish for elementary kids

Xochitl, la niña de las flores is among those memorable and folklore-inspired books to learn Spanish for elementary kids. 

It’s written for language students who are six to nine years old and comes in a bilingual format that makes it highly easy to read and follow. 

The nostalgic tale narrates the story of Xochitl, a young girl from El Salvador who just relocated to the United States with her family. Initially, Xochitl misses her life back home, her friends, her garden, and her beloved family’s flower shop. 

As they settle into American life, Xochitl and her family decide to start a new plant nursery to sell their plants on the street once again. 

Throughout the story, Xochitl starts to build new connections and make friends. She understands a home is where the heart is and touches base on the different immigration tales of American society. 

It’s a fantastic story for teaching children about overcoming challenges, building community, and the value of friendship. The side-by-side bilingual texts are excellent for strengthening reading comprehension and Spanish vocabulary. 

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Spanish Classroom Activities

5. Passing Pages: The Story of My Life (Pasando páginas: La historia de mi vida) by Sonia Sotomayor

Pasando páginas - book cover

Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina woman to serve as U.S. Supreme Court judge. Her autobiography was written for readers four to eight years old, and makes one of the most inspirational books to learn Spanish for elementary kids. 

The narrative focuses on Sonia’s love for books and how they’ve supported her to overcome different life challenges and reach her dreams. The book cultivates motivation for reading and embracing as a productive habit at a young age. 

Pasando páginas is a wonderful teaching aide and can even support adults who are learning Spanish. It’s beautifully illustrated, it’s well written, and uses loads of Spanish vocabulary you can reinforce. 

Get the Book

Spanish Classroom Activities

  • Have your students do a Show and Tell where on Sonia Sotomayor using Spanish adjectives and descriptives. You can use this Massive List of Spanish Adjectives while you give them a lesson on vocabulary for the activity. 
  • Tell your students more about Sonia Sotomayor and her impressive impact as a Hspanic woman, and leader. 

6. De Colores (Of colors) and Other Latin American Folksongs for Children by José Luis Orozco

Book De Dolores

This is one of the most joyful, and vivid books to learn Spanish for elementary kids you’ll find. 

De Colores is a compilation of Latin-American songs where kids learn rhymes, hand games, and traditional Spanish songs. 

Singing and playing are engaging methods for learning a language. Kids get Spanish immersion as they have fun. 

The colorful book also encourages appreciation for diversity and Latino culture. It’s an ideal book for children to start embracing the richness of the Spanish language. It comes with English-Spanish text and has songs for any mood, and occasion. 

Get the Book

Spanish Classroom Activities

  • Prepare different exercises for kids to fill in the blank in the lyrics of the different songs in the book. This is a foolproof activity for testing your student’s Spanish listening, and reading comprehension. 
  • The title of the book comes from the song De Colores inspired by Cesar Chavez. Teach your elementary students all about this local hero with 11 Classroom Activities for Celebrating Cesar Chavez. 

7. Piñatas and Paper Flowers: Holidays of the Americas in English and Spanish (Piñatas y flores de papel: Fiestas de las Américas en inglés y español) by Lila Perl

books to learn Spanish for elementary kids

Piñatas y flores de papel is an unforgettable part of the different books to learn Spanish for elementary kids you can find in this list. 

The book comes with English-Spanish parallel text that enables readers to further understand its concepts and complex descriptions. It’s for advanced elementary.

It tells the reader about the particular and different holidays children celebrate in Latin America. This book talks about carnaval, fireworks, día de muertos, and many more unique, colorful, and special Latin American celebrations. 

It provides a great opportunity to teach language students about traditions and folklore, as they also get Spanish immersion. 

Get the Book

Spanish Classroom Activities

  • Make cascarones in class, and create decorations inspired by the book’s stories to set a mood for reading it. 

8. Rainbow Weaver (Tejedora del arcoiris) by Linda Elovitz Marshall

books to learn Spanish for elementary kids

Tejedora del arcoiris is an essential part of this list of books to learn Spanish for elementary kids that comes with bilingual text. This makes it highly effective for language students to grasp vocabulary and complex social scenarios in the narrative. 

It tells the story of Ixchel, a young Maya girl from Guatemala who wants to follow the women of her family in the tradition of weaving. However, her family struggles with finding time to teach her and purchasing materials for her. In spite of the hardships, Ixchel’s creativity allows her to come up with a fantastic solution. 

I highly recommend this book, it shares many details and insight about Guatemala and Maya culture. It’s great for cultivating an appreciation for Latino heritage, and ultimately for improving Spanish-English reading comprehension. 

Get the Book

Spanish Classroom Activities

Find The Right Support for Your Kids To Learn Spanish

I trust that after reading this unique list of books to learn Spanish for elementary kids, your children will be on the right track to fluency. 

If you are a homeschool parent in need of support in your chosen Spanish curriculum, have your kids join a free trial class with us at Homeschool Spanish Academy. 

Our team of certified teachers from Guatemala have a decade worth of experience teaching confidence and conversation to children. The different programs at accessible pricing apply effective learning methods, and practical materials for you to follow at home.

Homeschool Spanish Academy is also ideal for Spanish educators who struggle with having many students with varying levels of performance. The tailor-made lessons are available as 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students.

Inquire about group classes and empower your students to speak Spanish with confidence, knowledge, and clarity.

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Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

Cindy D, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

- William R, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

- Karie Ann, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more Spanish resources? Check these out!

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Free Spanish Lessons for Kids (Science, History, Basics and More) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/free-spanish-lessons-for-kids/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/free-spanish-lessons-for-kids/#respond Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=23914 Do you want your kids to learn Spanish? Are you teaching Spanish and need more resources? You’ve come to the right place! Our kid-friendly collection of free Spanish lessons covers more than 10 categories, such as history, science, nutrition, and even Spanish basics. Each lesson includes: Easy instruction on what to teach and in which […]

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Do you want your kids to learn Spanish? Are you teaching Spanish and need more resources?

You’ve come to the right place!

Our kid-friendly collection of free Spanish lessons covers more than 10 categories, such as history, science, nutrition, and even Spanish basics. Each lesson includes:

  • Easy instruction on what to teach and in which order.
  • Colorful printable activity packets to reinforce the lesson material.
  • Engaging infographics to print or save on your device.
  • Resource lists that include topic-related songs, books, movies, and more.
  • Games and activities to help apply new information in fun ways.
  • Additional learning strategies suitable for kids.

From exotic animals to ancient civilizations, your kids will learn Spanish vocabulary built into the context of history, culture, science, and so much more!

Are you ready to crank up the fun in your Spanish instruction?

Keep your kids engaged and on the edge of their seats with the following free Spanish lessons!

Explore the Categories

Spanish basics
Lessons for Kids - Science
Lessons for Kids - Nutrition
Lessons for Kids - History
Lessons for Kids - holidays
Lessons for Kids - Miscellaneous

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting ➡

Help your kids master the basics of Spanish with these fun and educational activities. In these free lessons you will find useful vocabulary, easy-to-follow guides, and downloadable content to use during your instruction.

You’ll find useful Spanish resources like flashcards, worksheets, and fun “apply-your-knowledge” activities. Use them during your class or at home to make learning an exciting, hands-on experience. Kids will master the Spanish language in no time!

Science

Animals

Teach your kids about animals and their habitats with these fun guides! We have a vast selection with all types of animals. You can use these easy-to-follow Spanish lessons to teach your kids about animal vocabulary and interesting facts about their favorite creatures.

Human Anatomy

Teach all about the parts of the body and human anatomy! Your kids will learn interesting facts about the human body while having fun. These interactive lessons for kids will help you teach vocabulary about the different parts of the body, the senses, and much more!

Geography

Explore the world with your kids! These interactive lessons about geography will make your Spanish class much more fun and interesting. Keep your kids engaged in science and teach them useful vocabulary they can start using today.

Nature

Don’t miss out on teaching your kids about nature with these fun Spanish lessons! You will find different topics, from astronomy to the water cycle, and all of them include free downloadable content for you to use.

Nutrition

Make sure your kids stay healthy with these free Spanish lessons! Teach them all about nutrition, different types of food, and cooking with the help of these interactive lessons. Kids will have fun solving puzzles and playing while learning useful Spanish vocabulary.

History

Kids will fall in love with history if they’re having fun! Check out these amazing Spanish lessons about different time periods and important civilizations, and use them during your classes. You will find free downloadable content to accompany your lesson and make them a fun experience!

Holidays

Every kids loves the Holidays! Teach them all about these fun celebrations with an interactive Spanish lesson. Every lesson includes downloadable content for you to use for free. Your kids will learn useful vocabulary, the story behind each holiday, and much more!

Miscellaneous

Are you looking for random topics to teach Spanish? We’ve got you! Check out these amazing topics and use them during your Spanish lessons. You will find every theme under the sun, and all of them include interactive activities you can use.

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How to Teach Your Child Spanish: 11 Easy Strategies https://www.spanish.academy/blog/teach-your-child-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/teach-your-child-spanish/#respond Sat, 08 Jan 2022 01:52:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=3271 Knowing how to teach Spanish to your child so they’re bilingual in today’s world is not only a perk but a serious advantage. One might even consider it a necessity! Of course, as parents doing our best, we want to impart this linguistic talent to our children. Spanish is an especially popular language choice, with […]

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Knowing how to teach Spanish to your child so they’re bilingual in today’s world is not only a perk but a serious advantage. One might even consider it a necessity!

Of course, as parents doing our best, we want to impart this linguistic talent to our children. Spanish is an especially popular language choice, with more than 500 million speakers worldwide.

However, what if you only speak English? What if you learned Spanish years ago in high school, and now you’ve forgotten how to pronounce everything?

There are so many questions that arise when we want to teach Spanish to our children but are limited by our language capabilities. The internet is full of overwhelming amounts of information about how to teach this foreign language at home, whether we speak it or not, and the sheer volume of resources can be daunting to sift through.

In this article, I will boil down the excess into manageable chunks to explain the what, the why, and the how of teaching Spanish to your child at home.

Hear Your Child Speak Spanish! Your Free Trial Class Is Waiting ➡

Don’t Just Learn a Language: Aquire It

First, let’s imagine this: you are building a house.

Before the house can be constructed piece by piece, you must first lay down a solid foundation. In this analogy, our understanding of how to learn Spanish is the foundation, and the pieces of the house are the strategies explained in detail below.

To understand how our children learn a foreign language, we will turn it over to linguist Stephen Krashen who developed a useful theory on how children experience language learning:

The result of language acquisition … is subconscious. We are generally not consciously aware of the rules of the languages we have acquired. Instead, we have a ‘feel’ for the correctness. Grammatical sentences ‘sound’ right, or ‘feel’ right, and errors feel wrong, even if we do not consciously know what rule was violated. (Krashen 10)

While we may think of language learning as all the grammar, vocabulary, and drills, it’s actually more effective to use the language in a meaningful way. The interaction itself is what grabs our attention and holds it at a very deep level. Children subconsciously learn the rules of their native language. In order to maximize the learning potential for acquiring a second language, it would be wise to use the same method.

Let’s look at these two opposing examples:

learning

Example 1: Memorization

The teacher stands in front of the students, pointing to a list of new Spanish vocabulary words on the board. He asks the students to write the words in their notebooks: agua, arena, lodo, polvo. The students are then instructed to look up the definition of each word in the dictionary, make flashcards, and memorize their meanings.

Example 2: Experience

Students gather in a circle. The teacher reveals a sensory table with four different textures, each with its own label. She asks the students to touch each substance while saying its name: agua, arena, lodo, polvo. They will immediately associate the tactile sense of each substance (water, sand, mud, dust) with its Spanish name.

In each example, the students are learning. The question is: how are they learning?

Number one shows memorization and number two shows a combination of associative memory and subconscious acquisition. Although both examples lead to learning, the second method will be more effective with longer-lasting results since it is made meaningful by the experience.

Children, especially toddlers and younger children, are much faster to imitate words, phrases, or song lyrics when they acquire them rather than learn them; when they experience them rather than memorize them.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most effective strategies you can use at home to improve language learning!

Teach Spanish: 11 Strategies for Success

1. Learn along with your child

learning

Your kids need a compelling reason to learn a second language. As soon as they understand that it will increase interaction time with you, they will be extra motivated to engage.

Brush up on your skills or start from scratch—it’s going to be a rewarding ride! Enroll in an online class at Homeschool Spanish Academy (the first class is free!) or look around the internet for options that suit your family’s needs.

You might like: Top Cost-Effective Spanish Class Options for Kids

You will want to make sure your pronunciation skills are in good shape as you begin your learning journey with your child.

2. Set up a daily schedule for language learning

A 10- to 30-minute daily routine that is set at the same time is necessary for the best results. Children thrive in learning environments where they understand what to expect. Depending on their ages, they will need to start with shorter time frames and then slowly increase their stamina over a period of a few weeks or more.

To teach Spanish to your child, create a routine that suits you and your child by dividing the time up into experiences that will encourage learning. For example:

  •  5 minutes – a fun song with a meaningful dance
  • 10 minutes – color a picture and practice pronunciation with an activity
  • 10 minutes – play a game to reinforce new vocabulary
  • 5 minutes – a fun song with meaningful dance again

3. Choose your themes when you teach Spanish

learning

When you teach Spanish, focusing on specific topics, or themes, helps you and your child focus on related information and makes learning easier.

By building mental bridges between similar ideas in a theme, you are more likely to create meaningful memories. Spanish themes you might like to include will revolve around a central theme.

For instance, the theme could be “On the Beach” and for 2 to 4 weeks you discuss different sub-topics using vocabulary (warm weather, what you bring to the beach, what you see on a beach), phrases and verbs (vamos a la playa, me gusta nadar), and play beach-related games (toss a beach ball and say new words or phrases, sing songs about hot weather, or fill up a kiddie pool!).

Organize your themes into a notebook and jot down new ideas as you move through the year of learning.

You might like: Learn Spanish with Music: Themes, Songs and Lesson Ideas for Preschool and Elementary

4. Use props and TPR

Props are broadly defined as “serving a means of assistance,” and in this case, they are assisting you to teach Spanish and bring the lesson to life. You use toys and gadgets to grab your child’s attention and excite their inner desire to play.

A squishy toy frog is a whole other world compared to a simple picture. If you’re trying to encourage subconscious learning, then you will want to stimulate the child’s senses and, again, give them a reason to learn.

Along the same line of props is TPR, which stands for Total Physical Response. This is a method used by language teachers to help students understand new words by using physical movement. We parents do this automatically when teaching our babies to speak our native language, so this should come naturally!

TPR means to use your body to show the meaning of words while teaching them, and then have your child imitate the movement and the word or phrase. When teaching the phrase “Tengo sueño” (I am tired), for example, you can rub your hands over your eyes in a sleepy motion. Have your child repeat it and use the same motion.

It’s important to be consistent when choosing movements for whichever words or phrases you’re teaching.

You might like: How to Use Total Physical Response to Teach Your Child Spanish

5. Combine learning and play

learning

Learning is much more effective when it is fun! When you teach Spanish to your child, keep in mind that it shouldn’t feel like homework or a chore.

You can combine learning and play easily by using songs, dances, toys, and lots of physical activity. One excellent idea is to use a Spanish-only puppet!

Find a funny puppet at a thrift store and name it in Spanish. Tell your child that this puppet only speaks Spanish, so anytime they communicate together (you are the puppet, of course), your child has to try really hard to remember the vocabulary they’ve learned.

6. Add Spanish to established routines

Your morning and bedtime routines are goldmines for language learning! Take advantage of the daily repetition in these activities and gradually add new Spanish words and phrases to them.

While brushing your teeth, you say, “¡Me cepillo los dientes!” as your child repeats. Point to your teeth and say again, “dientes” so your child can repeat.

While changing into pajamas, repeat, “Me pongo el pijama!” and hold up the clothes and say together “pijama.”

The key is repetition and associating a name with an object or phrase with an action. This is a guaranteed way to teach new vocabulary.

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7. Try family ‘Spanish time’ once a week

Everyone in the family can get in on the action by setting up a weekly time when the whole family practices Spanish together. A good time might be once a week during dinner or a Spanish game night. Everyone tries to communicate as best they can for 10 minutes (or as long as they can manage) using only the Spanish they’ve learned!

8. Collect new vocabulary words in a Libro de Palabras

learning

While you are teaching your children new words, it will be beneficial to have an organized place for them to store it all (since it will not all be stored in their heads!).

Reuse an old binder or pick up a notebook and use it as a home for vocabulary. By calling it a “libro de palabras” you will easily teach your child two words – libro and palabras.

Have your child glue down colored pictures of objects and their names on it that he or she colored, cut, and practiced.

Then, every week, have a time when you both can sit down together and simply look through them as a review.

9. Seek out community support

We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but it’s also the case with teaching a new language to a child!

A great way to gather ideas and resources, ask questions, voice concerns, and vent when you need it to those who understand  (we’ve all been there!) is by joining a like-minded group.

You can look for meetups in your area for parents teaching bilingual children, join groups online by searching Google or Facebook, or ask around at your child’s school to see if any other parents are teaching their children Spanish.

10. Try out Spanish learning videos

learning

While videos aren’t the same as having a live teacher, they do have their place! Let’s use the “On the Beach” theme as an example here, too.

If this were a theme in your house and you already learned some songs and vocabulary, and a few of the sub-topics had already been explored, then it would be helpful to use a video.

The video should make use of some of the words and phrases you covered. Use this as a review. You could pick out one or two new words to focus on as a learning goal while watching the video to extend it, or you could ignore the new vocabulary and just use it as a review.

If you’re looking for some great videos on a specific topic or for video lessons, check out our YouTube channel, Spanish Academy TV!

11. Enroll your child in online Spanish classes

The ultimate support in your quest to teach your child Spanish is to enlist the help of a trained, native Spanish teacher.

This is an extremely efficient way to give your child the gift of bilingualism. Sign up your child today for a free class at Homeschool Spanish Academy, where they will start speaking Spanish immediately!

By using an online classroom to provide the bulk of instruction and experience, you can focus on supplying the boost at home using the ideas listed above.

If your child is too young for online classes, consider taking the class yourself to improve your Spanish and share the talent with your child. It’s a win-win!

You Can Do It!

Teaching a foreign language to your child is certainly a challenge, but with the right tools and a positive attitude, you can do it! Take advantage of this list of ideas while you gather your resources and make your teaching plan, or schedule your free class with Homeschool Spanish Academy today. We would love to help you achieve your language goals. No matter how you choose to teach your child Spanish, remember what a great parent you are for helping your child master a foreign language. ¡Buen trabajo!

Would you like a Free Spanish eBook for Beginners?

Homeschool Spanish Academy’s free eBook for beginners called Weird & Wacky Spanish Stories for Beginners is full of interesting stories, great pictures, and English-Spanish parallel text! It’s best suited for A2 level and above, but it’s also perfect for A1 learners who wish to improve their fluency through reading. It’s fun for kids and adults!

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Desert Animals and Plants (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-desert-animals-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-desert-animals-in-spanish/#respond Tue, 28 Dec 2021 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=23599 The fascinating animals in a desert range from coyotes to mountain lions to scorpions, rattlesnakes, lizards, and birds. What they all have in common is their home in the desert biome. Both hot and cold deserts exist! A region is classified as a desert-based on how dry it is, rather than on its temperature. Water […]

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The fascinating animals in a desert range from coyotes to mountain lions to scorpions, rattlesnakes, lizards, and birds. What they all have in common is their home in the desert biome.

Both hot and cold deserts exist! A region is classified as a desert-based on how dry it is, rather than on its temperature.

Water is essential to life. Because deserts have a scarcity of water, the plants and animals that inhabit the desert biome must be well adapted to survive.

Learning about desert animals in Spanish is super fun and engaging for kids. 

So, keep reading for a super fun, kid-centered Spanish-learning guide that teaches vocabulary related to the desert animals in Spanish!

kids activities

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Type your name and email below to get three activities for kids about desert animals in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
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What Is a Desert?

Not to be confused with a sweet postre (dessert), a desert is a place that gets less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain per year. 

There are 23 deserts in the world, and each one is home to a range of desert animals. 

Stony, windy deserts are home to few living creatures. Some deserts are full of plants that retain water, such as cacti and other succulents. 

Fun fact! 

El desierto más grande del mundo está en la Antártida.
The biggest desert in the world is in Antarctica. 

desert animals
Antarctica | © Tak/Flickr

Despite their reputation for being barren and empty, deserts are full of diverse and amazing wildlife that has adapted to the harsh climate and other environmental conditions.

For example, many desert animals are paler than their counterparts in more moderate environments. Pale colors in feathers, fur, scales, or skin not only allow the animal to take in less heat from the environment, but also help to make it less conspicuous to predators in the bright, pallid surroundings. That’s an incredible desert animal adaptation!

desert animals

Desert Animals in Spanish – Vocabulary 

Loads of reptiles, mammals, birds, and insects live in the desert. 

The Sonoran Desert (in the US state of Arizona) has over 500 bird species, 130 mammal species, and 100 reptile species! 

Check out this vocabulary list to learn the names of the most common desert animals in Spanish.

Hot Desert Animals – Part 1

EnglishSpanish
aardvarkel cerdo hormiguero
addax antelopeel antílope addax
armadillo lizardel lagarto armadillo
camelel camello
coyoteel coyote
fennec foxel zorro fénec
jackrabbitla liebre
javelinael pecarí

Example Sentences in Spanish

El cerdo hormiguero vive en el desierto del Sahara.
The aardvark lives in the Sahara desert.

Las orejas grandes y distintivas del zorro fénec lo ayudan a mantenerse fresco.
The large, distinctive ears of the fennec fox helps it keep cool.

Las liebres son en realidad liebres, no conejos.
Jackrabbits are actually hares, not rabbits.

Hot Desert Animals – Part 2

EnglishSpanish
kangaroo ratla rata canguro
meerkatel suricato
mountain lionel puma
ostrichel avestruz
rattlesnakela serpiente de cascabel
roadrunnerel correcaminos
scorpionel alacrán
tortoisela tortuga
yucca mothla polilla de la yuca

Example Sentences in Spanish

Las ratas canguro son nocturnas y comen hojas, tallos y frutas.
Kangaroo rats are nocturnal and eat leaves, stems, and fruit.

Los avestruces pueden alcanzar hasta 9 pies (2.74 m) de altura.
Ostriches can reach up to 9 feet (2.74 m) in height.

El puma es el gato más grande del continente norteamericano y también el gato ronroneador más grande del mundo.
The mountain lion is the largest cat on the North American continent and also the world’s largest purring cat.

jackrabbit
Jackrabbit | © Elaine with Grey Cats/Flickr

Cold Desert Animals in Spanish

EnglishSpanish
arctic fox el zorro ártico
caribouel caribú
lemmingel leming
musk oxen el buey almizclero
polar bear el oso polar

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los osos polares viven en la tundra ártica, que es un desierto.
Polar bears live on the Arctic Tundra, which is a desert. 

Los caribúes cavan con sus cascos en el suelo helado para buscar comida como musgo.
Caribou dig at the frozen ground with their hooves to look for food, such as moss.

El buey almizclero es un animal de manada que vive en la tundra ártica del norte de Canadá y Groenlandia.
The musk ox is a herd animal that lives in the Arctic tundra of northern Canada and Greenland.

desert animals

Desert Plants in Spanish

Many desert plants go without water for years due to a lack of rainfall in their ecosystem. Some plants have super long tap roots that reach deep into the Earth for water. Other plants called succulents store water in their leaves or stems.

EnglishSpanish
ficusel ficus
Mexican poppyla amapola mexicana
orange treeel naranjo
pindo palmla palmera pindo
prickly pear cactusel nopal
saguaro cactusel cactus saguaro
succulentslas suculentas
wildflowersla flor silvestre

Los cactus necesitan mucha luz.
Cactuses need a lot of light.

Mira las flores silvestres tan bellas.
Look at the beautiful wildflowers.

plants
Nopal field | © rainy city/Flickr

Desert Animals in Spanish – Activities

Word Search: Desert Animals in Spanish 

Use our sopa de letras (word search) and have your students look for vocabulary words from this lesson. 

Completing a word search both reinforces Spanish reading skills and develops attention. 

Desert Animal Flashcards

Print out our flashcards of desert animal species. Have your student color the illustrations on each flashcard. 

This activity is ideal for testing their memory of the content covered in this lesson. It’s great for visual learners to retain concepts and Spanish words. Use the example sentences to give them clues. 

Visit Your Local Zoo 

Why not take a field trip to the nearest zoo? 

The best way for your students to learn about desert animals is by seeing them in action.

Create a space for discussion after the visit where you encourage sentence building and Spanish conversation among students. 

Desert Animals in Spanish Videos

Loads of educational videos support kids in Spanish listening, pronunciation, and fluency. 

Practice and Speak Spanish

The best way for your kids to retain this desert animal in Spanish vocabulary is by using it! Spanish opens doors for your children’s future. It helps them develop strong listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills. 

Becoming a confident and fluent Spanish speaker is easy for kids. It’s proven that children have the ability to acquire language skills more quickly and naturally than adults. The sooner they are exposed to Spanish, the faster they’ll learn it. 

So, don’t hesitate—sign your child up for a free trial class with one of our friendly, certified, native Spanish teachers at Homeschool Spanish Academy today!

Do you need support in your classroom or homeschool? Homeschool Spanish Academy provides 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students. We help alleviate the difficulty of having many students of varying ability levels. Check out our group class page and check out the content we can provide you and your children.

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Exploring Ancient Greece (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/kids-guide-to-ancient-greece-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/kids-guide-to-ancient-greece-in-spanish/#respond Fri, 24 Dec 2021 14:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=23304 Ancient Greece for kids is a fascinating topic for teaching world history in the Spanish classroom. It allows you to show your kids and students new Spanish vocabulary that takes their language skills to a whole new level.  Ancient Greece is responsible for laying the foundations of civilization and society. Politics, math, art, literature, and […]

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Ancient Greece for kids is a fascinating topic for teaching world history in the Spanish classroom. It allows you to show your kids and students new Spanish vocabulary that takes their language skills to a whole new level. 

Ancient Greece is responsible for laying the foundations of civilization and society. Politics, math, art, literature, and many other topics have influences from Ancient Greece. 

Show your children the impact of this inspiring civilization with this activity-packed kid’s guide to ancient Greece in Spanish.

Ancient Greece activities

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Type your name and email below to get four activities for kids about Ancient Greece in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Ancient Greece for Kids in the Spanish Classroom

Whether you’re a homeschool parent or Spanish educator, getting your hands on unique and fascinating subjects is essential for engaging young students. 

Kids have minds like sponges, they’re able to absorb large quantities of information through engaging lessons with amusing activities. Children who are learning Spanish benefit from constant exposure to native vocabulary, grammar, and conversational activities.

What’s more, your kids can develop fluency even faster than adults. By creating consistent Spanish classroom habits you’re preparing them for the future and for a more valuable education. 

Ancient Greece for kids is a go-to topic for teaching them history. Although Greek civilization dates thousands of years back, the impact and legacy it left for today’s society prevails.

Let’s travel back in time and revisit ancient Greek history for kids. 

Introduction to Ancient Greece for Kids

La antigua Grecia (ancient Greece) was a civilization in the Mediterranean that dominated the majority of its territory. They ruled a large part of Europe and western Asia. 

The ancient Greece map places it in southeastern Europe, formed by several islands. The Greeks were colonizers and explored new lands in search of territory for expanding their civilization. 

The Greeks began to thrive as early as 800 BC. They saw the rise of majestic cities like Atenas (Athens), a place where over 200,000 people once lived. Los griegos (greeks) took part in epic battles against egipcios (egyptians), espartanos (spartans), and persas (persians) as a result of their expansion. 

Ancient Greece for Kids Spanish Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
ancient civilizationla civilización antigua
GreeceGrecia
Greekel griego, la griega
Greek cityla ciudad griega
Greek societyla sociedad griega
Mediterraneanel Mediterráneo
territoryel territorio
to colonizecolonizar
to exploreexplorar
warla guerra

Example Sentences

Grecia fue una civilización antigua de Europa.
Greece was an ancient civilization of Europe.

La ciudad griega más majestuosa fue Atenas.
The most majestic Greek city was Athens.

La sociedad griega tuvo muchos aportes a la humanidad.
Greek society had many contributions to humanity.

Los griegos exploraron el Mediterráneo. 
The Greeks explored the Mediterranean. 

Los griegos colonizaron nuevos territorios.
The Greeks colonized new territories.

Fueron a la guerra en múltiples ocasiones.
They went to war on multiple occasions. 

Spanish example

Take your Spanish classroom even further into the past with this amusing and educational Kid’s Guide to the Stone Age in Spanish. 

Society of Ancient Greece for Kids 

La antigua sociedad griega (ancient Greek society) was mostly devoted to commerce, farming, and artisan work. People in Greece produced different foods and drinks that are unique to the Mediterranean.

The Greeks possessed strong armies with powerful war tactics. Their society was organized and was ruled by democracy. Both Greek men and women were entitled to specific rights, privileges, and protection. In spite of having a structured state many people in Greece were still poor and enslaved. These people weren’t allowed to vote and did forced labor.

Wealthy Greeks had schools, specialized academies, and enjoyed cultural activities. People of ancient Greece also spoke their own language: Griego antiguo (ancient Greek). 

Ancient Greek society is remembered for their impressive and rich culture. Their contributions to literature, philosophy, sports, theater, and food are still valued in our time.

Society of Ancient Greece Spanish Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
agriculture, farmingla agricultura
armieslos ejércitos
artisan workla artesanía
artslas artes
commerceel comercio
culturela cultura
democracyla democracia
educationla educación
Greek foodla comida griega
languageel idioma
literaturela literatura
philosophyla filosofía
sportslos deportes
theaterel teatro

Example sentences

Las personas de la antigua Grecia se dedicaban a la agricultura, la artesanía, el comercio y las artes.
People of ancient Greece were dedicated to farming, artisan work, commerce, and the arts.

La antigua Grecia tenía grandes ejércitos.
Ancient Greece had large armies.

El sistema político de la antigua Grecia era la democracia; había elecciones. 
The political system of ancient Greece was democracy—there were elections.

Los griegos tenían escuelas y academias para la educación.
The Greeks had schools and academies for education.

La sociedad griega disfrutaba de la literatura, el teatro, los deportes y la cultura.
Greek society enjoyed literature, theater, sports, and culture. 

Ancient Greek Arts and Architecture

Ancient Greece was surrounded by las artes (arts). Los artistas griegos (Greek artists) created fascinating detailed sculptures, paintings, mosaics, metalwork, literature, and pottery. 

El teatro (theater) was a passion for people of ancient Greece. Plays about tragedy and comedy highlighted important events, social, and political issues. 

La arquitectura griega (Greek architecture) continues to be highly influential. The use of columns and carvings was consistent in Greek major cities. The Greeks built temples, theaters, markets, gyms, and government buildings. 

People of ancient Greece lived in mud houses with clay tiles. The houses were built around a courtyard and had defined baños (bathrooms), habitaciones (bedrooms), cocina (kitchen), and different rooms for men and women.

Greek Arts and Architecture Spanish Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
columnslas columnas
comedyla comedia
courtyardel patio
gymslos gimnasios
ironworksla herrería
marketslos mercados
mosaicslos mosaicos
paintingla pintura
playla obra de teatro
potteryla cerámica
sculpturela escultura
templeslos templos
theaterslos teatros
to carvetallar
tragedyla tragedia

Example sentences

La antigua arquitectura griega utilizaba columnas.
Ancient Greek architecture used columns.

En la antigua Grecia, las personas disfrutaban ver obras de teatro de comedia y tragedia.
In ancient Greece, people enjoyed watching plays of comedy and tragedy.

Las casas de la antigua Grecia tenían un patio.
The houses of ancient Greece had a courtyard.

Los templos griegos eran adornados por mosaicos, esculturas y pinturas.
Greek temples were adorned with mosaics, sculpture, and paintings.

Los griegos tallaron esculturas de los dioses y diosas.
The Greeks carved sculptures of the gods and goddesses.

Los griegos utilizaban la herrería para elaborar espadas y armaduras.
The Greeks used ironwork to make swords and armors.

Las ciudades griegas tenían gimnasios y mercados.
Greek cities had gyms and markets.

Ancient Greece for kids

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
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Ancient Greek Food

In ancient Greece, people ate a large variety of delicious foods. They ate vegetales (vegetables), frutas (fruits), and nueces (nuts). 

Their most important foods were las aceitunas (olives) and la miel (honey). Both were strongly tied to Greek stories and myths. 

El aceite de oliva (oil), el pan (bread), el vino (wine), and los mariscos (seafood) were also an essential part of the healthy and savory Mediterranean diet.

Example sentences

La dieta mediterránea era nutritiva y saludable para los griegos.
The Mediterranean diet was nutritious and healthy for the greeks.

Los griegos consumían aceitunas y miel.
Greeks consumed olives and honey.

Los griegos acompañaban sus comidas con aceite de oliva, pan y vino.
The Greeks had their food with olive oil, bread, and wine.

La cocina de la antigua Grecia utilizaban vegetales, frutas, nueces, carnes y mariscos.
The cuisine of ancient Greece used vegetables, fruits, nuts, meats, and seafood. 

Ancient Greece for kids

Discover even more exotic flavors and ingredients with this yummy Kid’s Guide to Spanish Cooking Vocabulary. 

Ancient Greek Sports

The first olimpiadas (olympics) were held in 776 BC. They were originally part of a festival. The contestants participated in lucha libre (wrestling), salto largo (long jump), carreras (running), disc and spear throwing. 

The games were held in the Olympia sanctuary to honor the God of lightning, Zeus. Those ancient olympics didn’t have medals; the prize was a wreath of olive leaves from a sacred tree.

Example sentences

Los primeros juegos olímpicos se celebraron en la antigua Grecia.
The first Olympic games were celebrated in ancient Greece.

Los atletas competían en eventos de lucha libre, salto largo, carreras, lanzamiento de lanza y disco.
The athletes would compete in wrestling, long jump, running, spear and discus throw events.

Las olimpiadas se celebraban en honor a Zeus, dios del rayo.
The Olympics were celebrated in honor of Zeus, god of lighting.

Ancient Greece for kids

Ancient Greek Celebrations

Los antiguos griegos loved celebrating carnavales (carnivals) and festivales (festivals). They enjoyed la música (music), dancing, and wearing disfraces (costumes). Some celebrations even went on for days, weeks, and months. 

Most of the celebrations were in honor of ancient Greek gods and goddesses. 

Example sentences

Los carnavales y festivales de la antigua Grecia eran religiosos.
The carnivals and festivals of ancient Greece were religious.

Los griegos celebraban con baile, música y disfraces.
The Greeks celebrated with dancing, music, and costumes.

Algunas celebraciones duraban días, semanas y meses.
Some celebrations went on for days, weeks, and months. 

Spanish example

Ancient Greece Religion

The religion of ancient Greece was politeísta (polytheism), meaning they believed in several dioses y diosas (gods and goddesses). 

These gods were believed to be in control of el clima (weather), la salud (health), el dinero (money), feelings, and of almost everything that affected the Greeks. To honor them and keep them happy, people would build sanctuaries and shrines in their houses.

In those days, every misfortune was attributed to punishment from the Gods. People believed the most admired gods and goddesses lived in El Monte Olimpo (Mount Olympus) of the skies as a family. 

EnglishSpanish
Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and loveAfrodita, diosa de la belleza y el amor
Apollo, god of medicineApolo, dios de la medicina
Athena, goddess of wisdomAtenea, diosa de la sabiduría
Hades, god of the underworldHades, dios del inframundo
Hephestus, god of fireHefesto, dios del fuego
Hera, goddess of OlympusHera, diosa del Olimpo
Poseidon, god of the oceanPoseidón, dios del océano
Zeus, god of the sky and lightning
Zeus, dios del cielo y rayo

Example sentences

La religión de la antigua Grecia tenía varios dioses y diosas.
The religion of ancient Greece had several gods and goddesses.

Los dioses eran responsables del clima, dinero, fortuna, y todo lo que ocurría.
The gods were responsible for the weather, money, fortune, and everything that went on.

Para mantener felices a los dioses, los griegos hacían templos y altares.
To keep the gods happy, the Greeks made temples and altars.

Los griegos creían que los dioses vivían en los cielos en el Monte Olimpo.
The Greeks believed that the gods lived in the skies on Mount olympus.

Zeus, dios del cielo y el rayo, era el más adorado.
Zeus, god of the sky and lightning, was the most adored. 

Spanish example

Fun Facts and Curiosities About Ancient Greece for Kids

  • Alejandro el grande (Alexander the Great) was a Greek ruler who expanded the empire to Egypt, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
  • The Greeks were very supersticiosos (superstitious) and believed in folk tales and mythological creatures. These stories are called la mitología griega (Greek mythology). 
  • Ancient Greeks used la mitología griega for explaining the existence of their gods. In these stories, their gods and goddesses faced monsters like el minotauro (minotaur), medusa, and los titanes (titans).
  • Los romanos (Romans) copied a lot from Greek culture. Both cultures have similar architecture, religion, among other things.
  • When there was crime, the Greeks held juicios (trials) with jurados (jurys) of up to 500 people.
  • Los filósofos griegos (Greek philosophers) were very important to world history. They spent their time trying to make sense of the world through theories and reasoning.
  • Aristoteles (Aristotle), Platón (Plato), and Socrates were all ancient Greek philosophers.
  • The ancient Greek empire declined after being conquered by the ancient Romans. It lasted until 146 BC.

Ancient Greece for Kids Spanish Classroom Activities

Classroom Spanish Olympics: Flashcards and Challenges

Celebrate the Spanish olimpiadas with your students in the comfort of your class. 

Our juegos olimpicos template is divided into three events for your students to compete. The categories are:

  • spelling bee
  • complete the sentence
  • word match

Use our set of flashcards as support for this hands-on activity. You can include prizes to encourage healthy competition and participation.

Word Search

Test your child’s concentration and knowledge of Spanish words with our sopa de letras (word search) activity. A word search strengthens reading, writing, and Spanish pronunciation. 

Ancient Greece Quiz and Crossword Puzzle

Use our ancient Greece for kids quiz as a reading comprehension test of the lesson. 

Our template comes with 10 questions and crossword puzzle for kids to complete. This activity is a worthwhile challenge for students to enjoy and test their knowledge and understanding of concepts. 

Videos About Ancient Greece for Kids

YouTube has dozens of videos about ancient Greece for kids in Spanish you can use for this lesson. Videos are an accessible and comfortable learning strategy for kids to enjoy at any point of the day. They are ideal for visual learners and keep students engaged with learning without even noticing. 

Choose from this list of entertaining ancient Greece for kids videos.

Ancient Greece Story Time

The wonders of ancient Greece are guaranteed to keep any young student amused with learning. 

Greek mythology and tales are a fantastic resource you can use to compliment this lesson. Depending on your student’s Spanish level, you can assign these books as an assignment or read them together in story time. 

Here’s a list of ancient Greece for kids books you can use in this lesson.

Stay On the Path to Fluency

Discovering the marvels of ancient Greece for kids is only one of many rich topics you can use in your Spanish classroom. Learn more captivating topics for your children with the support of our wonderful certified Spanish teachers from Guatemala. 

Our experienced team is equipped to provide 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students, while alleviating the stress of having different level students. Take a free class and see what we can do for you and your student’s performance.

We’ll set you up with excellent resources and result-driven strategies for improving your child’s confidence in the Spanish language. Choose from our different accessible programs today. 

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“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

- Karie Ann, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

- William R, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

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Nature Printables and Activities (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-nature-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-nature-in-spanish/#respond Thu, 09 Dec 2021 21:58:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=22604 Nature lesson plans are an exceptional resource for elevating environmental education and Spanish immersion in young students. Nature is where children play games and discover colorful living beings and unique places. Teaching nature for kids vocabulary in Spanish is a fantastic opportunity for elevating your child’s language and communication skills. Keep reading for a whimsical […]

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Nature lesson plans are an exceptional resource for elevating environmental education and Spanish immersion in young students. Nature is where children play games and discover colorful living beings and unique places. Teaching nature for kids vocabulary in Spanish is a fantastic opportunity for elevating your child’s language and communication skills.

Keep reading for a whimsical Kid’s Guide to Nature in Spanish packed with vocabulary, nature lesson plans, and engaging activities for the classroom.

A Kid's Guide to Nature in Spanish

Download FREE Nature in Spanish Activities for Kids!

Type your name and email below to get two activities for kids about nature in Spanish! You will receive: Fill-in-the-blanks and Word search!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

What Is Nature for Kids?

La naturaleza (nature) is everything you know that hasn’t had any human intervention. It’s a collection of living beings, inanimate objects, elements, and places that give life to our environment.

La naturaleza and its elements were formed spontaneously on our planet. Nature and all of its components are essential for the balance of our planet, and for humans to thrive. Nature gives us food, water, fresh air, and raw materials for manufacturing things we use on a daily basis. 

Nature gives plenty to the living beings on our planet, however this isn’t always taken with proper care. Abusing los recursos naturales (natural resources) we get from nature brings a huge toll on our planet. 

La educación ambiental (environmental education) is an essential portion of nature lesson plans. It creates awareness of the impact certain types of human activity have. 

Encouraging your children to care for nature teaches them the value of natural resources, and the long term impact harming nature has on life on Earth. 

nature for kids

Nature for Kids Basic Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
airel aire
animalslos animales
ecosystemel ecosistema
elementslos elementos
fireel fuego
humanslos humanos
lifela vida
living beingslos seres vivos
mushroomslos hongos
natural resourceslos recursos naturales
plantslas plantas
soilla tierra
treeslos árboles
waterel agua
weatherel clima

Example Sentences

La naturaleza es el conjunto de seres vivos, elementos y recursos naturales.
Nature is a collection of living beings, elements, and natural resources.

El agua, el fuego, el aire y la tierra son elementos de la naturaleza.
Water, fire, air, and soil are elements of nature. 

Los recursos naturales se utilizan para obtener materiales necesarios para la industrial.
Natural resources are used to obtain materials for industry. 

Los animales, los humanos, los árboles, los hongos y las plantas son seres vivos.
Animals, humans, trees, mushrooms, and plants are living beings.

El clima es parte importante de la naturaleza.
The weather is an important part of nature.

Un ecosistema es un conjunto de seres vivos y su entorno. 
An ecosystem is a set of living beings and their environment. 

Los minerales son recursos naturales.
Minerals are natural resources. 

La naturaleza es esencial para la vida.
Nature is essential for life. 

nature for kids

Living Beings in Nature for Kids

Nature is everywhere you go! All nature lesson plans should start off by highlighting the value of life in nature. 

Los humanos (humans), los animales (animals) y las plantas (plants) all have life and are a part of nature for kids. Los seres vivos (living beings) require food, air, water, and a suitable habitat for existing. 

Animals (Los animales)

Los animales exist in every corner of our planet. They have the capacity to adapt and reproduce in different environments and weather. 

You see animals when you go to the zoo, in the comfort of your home, and pretty much anywhere life can thrive. Scientists even believe that 80% of animal species in the world are still undiscovered. 

Los animales are an essential part of nature for kids. They have specific functions to fulfil in la cadena alimenticia (food chain). They maintain the balance of los ecosistemas (ecosystems).

 Animals are classified into two large groups: los animales invertebrados (invertebrate animals) and los animales vertebrados (vertebrate animals).

Los animales vertebrados are those animals that have a bony skeleton and backbone. 

Types of animales vertebrados include:

  • el delfín (dolphin)
  • el elefante (elephant)
  • las iguanas (iguanas)
  • los pericos (parakeets)
  • los perros (dogs)
  • las ranas (frogs)

Los animales invertebrados are animals that don’t have a backbone, or spinal cord. They make up the largest group of animals in nature! 

Types of animales invertebrados include:

  • las arañas (spiders)
  • los corales (coral)
  • el erizo (sea urchin)
  • las lombrices (worms)
  • la medusa (jellyfish)
  • el pulpo (octopus)

Try these insightful and complete nature lesson plans about Vertebrate Animals in Spanish and Invertebrate Animals in Spanish with your kids.

Plants and Trees (Las plantas y los árboles)

Las plantas (plants) and los arboles (trees) make nature lush and green. Plants and trees produce oxigeno (oxygen) we breathe in the air. Oxygen is essential to all living beings and their survival.

Plants and trees also provide food to living beings. Taking care of plants and trees is highly important. They are our main source of food and fresh air. They even provide shelter and homes to smaller animals. Plants produce vegetales (vegetables), fruta (fruits), and semillas (seeds) we consume for nourishment.

nature for kids

Teach your children all the wonders of Trees and their Parts in Spanish with entertaining nature lesson plans.

Humans (Los humanos)

Los humanos are the dominant species in nature. We have the capacity to make decisions and superior intelligence to other living beings. 

Humans are able to harvest and rely on los recursos naturales (natural resources) to manufacture materials for building, objects, clothing, and chemicals. 

Unfortunately humans push the boundaries on how to use nature to their advantage. Respecting all living beings and natural resources is key to any lifeform, and the balance of our planet. 

Natural Resources in Nature for Kids

Los recursos naturales (natural resources) are elements of nature used by humans to satisfy basic needs. The water you drink, the soil used for farming, and the lumber used to build houses are all recursos naturales

Los recursos naturales are divided into recursos naturales renovables (renewable natural resources) and recursos naturales no renovables (non-renewable natural resources).

The incorrect use of natural resources accelerates el cambio climático (climate change) which causes extreme weather and desastres naturales (natural disasters)

Renewable Natural Resources

Los recursos naturales renovables are those you can find in nature spontaneously. They grow and reproduce, so you’re able to use them several times. 

Renewable Natural Resources Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
agriculturela agricultura
biofuelel biocombustible
biomassla biomasa
geothermal energyla energía geotérmica
sunlightla luz solar
tidela marea
waterel agua
windel viento
woodslos bosques

Example Sentences

Los recursos naturales renovables se regeneran y se reproducen.
Renewable natural resources regenerate and reproduce. 

Los biocombustibles son una alternativa amigable con la naturaleza.
Biofuels are a nature-friendly alternative.

La energía geotérmica proviene del calor interno de la Tierra.
Geothermal energy comes from the internal heat of the Earth.

La luz solar puede brindar electricidad. 
Sunlight can provide electricity.

Los bosques pueden regenerarse gracias a la reforestación.
Forests can regenerate thanks to reforestation. 

El agua es un recurso natural muy valioso.
Water is a valuable natural resource. 

Spanish example

Teach your child about the value of water with the nature lesson plans in this Kid’s Guide to the Water Cycle in Spanish. 

Non-renewable Natural Resources

Los recursos naturales no renovables are those that will eventually run out. They exist in limited capacity. They are often overused and take many years to replenish. 

Non-renewable Natural Resources Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
coalel carbón
diamondslos diamantes
drinking waterel agua potable
goldel oro
lumber, woodla madera
natural gasel gas natural
petroleumel petróleo
silverla plata
soilel suelo

Example Sentences

Los recursos naturales no renovables tienen un límite de uso.
Non-renewable natural resources have a use limit. 

Los recursos naturales no renovables toman mucho tiempo en regenerarse.
Non-renewable natural resources take a lot of time to regenerate. 

El carbón es un recurso natural no renovable que produce contaminación.
Coal is a non-renewable natural resource that produces contamination.

No todas las fuentes de agua en la naturaleza contienen agua potable. 
Not all water sources in nature contain drinking water. 

Talar mucha madera daña los bosques.
Cutting down a lot of lumber damages forests.

El suelo necesita regenerarse o se gasta.
Soil needs to regenerate or it wears out.

El oro, los diamantes y la plata son rocas y minerales.
Gold, diamonds, and silver are rocks and minerals.

El uso de recursos naturales no renovables acelera el cambio climático.
The use of non-renewable natural resources accelerates climate change. 

Explore the world of Rocks and Minerals in Spanish for Kids with amusing activities and captivating nature lesson plans. 

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Places in Nature for Kids

Kids and adults love being outdoors. Nature for kids is fantastic for entertainment, relaxation, and fun!

Children connect with nature on a whole other level. Relating to nature enhances cognitive skills and psychomotor stimulation. Los lugares de la naturaleza (places in nature) allow kids to play games, explore, and discover the world around them.

Places in nature where plants and animals coexist are known as biomas (biomes). These places come in all shapes, colors, and weather.

Places in Nature Vocabulary

EnglishSpanish
beachla playa
desertel desierto
junglela jungla, la selva
lakeel lago
marsh, swampel pantano
mountainla montaña
oceanel océano
prairie, grassland, meadowla pradera
riverel río
tundrala tundra
valleyel valle
volcanoel volcán
waterfallla cascada
wetlandel humedal
woods, forestel bosque

Example Sentences

La playa es un lugar para toda la familia.
The beach is a place for the whole family. 

El desierto es un lugar de la naturaleza muy caluroso.
The desert is a very hot place of nature.

La jungla tiene muchos tipos de animales y plantas.
The jungle has many types of animals and plants. 

Los lagos pueden ser de agua dulce o agua salada.
Lakes can be freshwater or saltwater. 

La pradera es un lugar cubierto de hierba en el campo.
The prairie is a place in the field covered in grass.

Los ríos fluyen a los océanos. 
Rivers flow to oceans.

La tundra ártica está cubierta de hielo y nieve.
The arctic tundra is covered by ice and snow.

Los volcanes tienen rocas y minerales.
Volcanos have rocks and minerals. 

Mi bosque favorito tiene una hermosa cascade.
My favorite forest has a beautiful waterfall. 

Los humedales son mis lugares favoritos de la naturaleza.
Wetlands are my favorite place in nature.

Spanish example

Explore other fascinating places of nature for kids in this educational Kid’s Guide to Biomes and Habitats in Spanish. 

Taking Care of Nature for Kids

The benefits of nature for kids are just a few of the reasons why it’s so important. Cuidar la naturaleza (caring for nature) is essential for teaching them the value of resources and life.

Here are 7 tips for your kids on how to care for nature.

1. Get your kids familiarized with caring for las plantas de la casa (house plants). Show them their parts and purpose. 

2. Teach your kids to recognize la contaminación (pollution), el ruido (noise), los humos (smoke), and la suciedad (filth). 

3. Share the value of the work done by city public servers. People who take care of sanitation and cleaning are key to taking care of nature. 

4. Connect your kids to los animales (animals). Visit a zoo or museum; or get a mascota (pet) they can be responsible and care for.

5. Watch documentales de naturaleza (nature documentaries) together. 

6. Encourage the use of eco-friendly products and produce less basura (waste) at home. Teach them the value of reusar (reusing), reciclar (recycling), and reducir (reduce). 

6. Include educación ambiental (environmental education) in outdoor activities, and in the Spanish classroom. 

Nature Lesson Plans and Activities

Word Search

Download our sopa de letras (word search) template for enhancing your child’s Spanish grammar and reading comprehension. Sopa de letras requires concentration and improves your child’s capacity of retaining concepts from nature lesson plans. 

FITB

A game of fill-in-the-blanks is a fun challenge for improving your child’s Spanish spelling and writing. Our template comes with 10 clues you can use for playing a game of hangman about nature. 

DIY Bins

For this nature for kids activity, you’ll need to source the following:

  • 4 plastic containers (yogurt or ice cream)
  • acrylic paint and brushes
  • labels and markers

Wash and clean the plastic containers before. The students will use the acrylic paint to decorate each container and label them accordingly:

  • azul para papel (blue for paper)
  • amarillo para aluminio y vidrio (yellow for aluminum and glass)
  • rojo para plástico (red for plastic)
  • verde para basura orgánica (green for organic waste)

This hands-on activity will allow students to share their creativity and art skills. You can make a classroom calendar for when each bin must be emptied. Teaching your kids the value of recycling is excellent for reinforcing the understanding of natural resources.

Field Trips

Plan a field trip where students can put these nature lesson plans to practice as a group. Here’s a list with a few places you can visit.

  • el zoológico (the zoo)
  • el acuario (the aquarium)
  • un parque nacional (a national park)
  • el museo de historia natural (the natural history museum)

Show and Tell

Have your students share with the classroom their favorite place in nature. Show and tell allows them to share their experience and practice Spanish fluency. 

Use this set of questions for this entertaining conversational activity. 

¿Cuál es tu lugar favorito de la naturaleza?
What is my favorite place in nature?

¿Por qué es tu favorita?
Why is it my favorite?

¿Dónde queda?
Where is it located?

¿Qué es lo que más te gustó? 
What did you like the most?

¿Qué animales viste? 
What animals did you see?

¿Qué recursos naturales había?
What natural resources were there?

Nature for Kids Videos

Videos are a visual and accessible Spanish resource for students. They can watch videos on their phones, tablets, computers, and tv. They bring great results to visual learners and support children with Spanish immersion. Ultimately, videos improve Spanish listening, pronunciation, and fluency. 

Here’s a list of YouTube videos you can use.

Teach Spanish in Nature

Teach your students Spanish in nature, and everywhere else, thanks to our affordable and unique group classes.

Our team of professionals from Guatemala will equip you with the best strategies and nature lesson packs for your classroom. If you’re in need of support, they provide 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students. They can alleviate the challenge of having different-level students. 

Kids have the capacity of becoming fluent faster than adults. Take advantage of their ability to learn and sign up for a free class

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Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

Cindy D, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

- William R, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

- Karie Ann, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

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Learn About Endangered Species (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-endangered-species/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-endangered-species/#respond Sat, 27 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=22218 Are you trying to find content about endangered species for kids in Spanish? You came to the right place!  In our world there are thousands, if not millions, of different animals and species. Some exist in the same area as we do, and others are thousands of miles away from our home. And while some […]

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Are you trying to find content about endangered species for kids in Spanish? You came to the right place! 

In our world there are thousands, if not millions, of different animals and species. Some exist in the same area as we do, and others are thousands of miles away from our home. And while some of them are safe and sound, others are in great danger of disappearing. 

The first time I learned about endangered species and the term extinción (extincion) I was no older than 7 years old.

My mom was singing a children’s song about el pato poc ( poc duck)—an endemic duck species of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala—and I asked her where and when I could see it. She told me the duck was an extinct species and there weren’t more of them on the planet. I remember feeling sad about it, but it also started a really important conversation: The responsibility that we as humans have with nature.

If you are planning to start a similar conversation with your children in Spanish, I got your back! Let’s learn today all about endangered species, the most important words and expressions to teach this topic in Spanish, endangered species facts, and how we can help to create conscience about it, even at a young age. 

Let’s begin! 

activities for kids

Download FREE Endangered Species in Spanish Activities for Kids!

Type your name and email below to get two activities for kids about endangered species in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

A Guide To Endangered Species for Kids in Spanish

The moment life began on our planet, animal and plant life went through different transformations. 

Our planet is so old that we can consider extinction as a really normal and natural phenomenon. Experts know that with each year we can expect the extinction between one to five species of different specimens. 

In fact, since life on Earth began, there have been, at least, five mass extinctions through the millions of years that our Planet has been home to thousands of species.

What is not normal is that instead of losing just up to 5 species per year, we are losing almost a dozen species everyday! 

The species that we haven’t lost but are really close to disappearing are called animales en peligro de extinción (endangered species) and those that don’t exist anymore are called animales extinguidos (extinct animals).

It is considered that a species is endangered when all the representatives of it around the world are in danger of disappearing.

Why Do Animals Go Extinct?

The reason animals are getting extinct can be a little bit complicated.

While we now know that extinction is a normal process in nature, fast advancing extinction like we are witnessing today is not, and there are a lot of reasons why animals, plants, and even microorganisms are dying. 

The reasons for extinction change from one species to the other. For some species, climate change can be mortal, while for others it is just deforestation, and others are just incapable of adapting.

Here is a small endangered species list of animals that are at the border of extinction in Spanish: 

EnglishSpanish
climate changeel cambio climático
contaminationla contaminación
deforestationla deforestación
illegal hunting/ poachingla caza furtiva/ilegal
illegal traffic of speciesel tráfico ilegal de especies
infectious diseaseslas enfermedades infecciosas
introduction of exotic speciesla introducción de especies exóticas
pathogenslos patógenos 

Endangered Species

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the most important organization and authority for the conservation of nature.

Because of their work they have an endangered species list—called the red list— where the most endangered species are listed and presented for us to learn about them, and to learn about all the work people around the world are doing to preserve them. 

Here are some endangered species examples for you to learn about with your kids in Spanish. 

Amphibians (Los anfibios)

Los anfibios (amphibians) are cold-blooded vertebrates that spend a lot of their life between water and land. All amphibians are born with gills to make their life in the water easier, and while some of them retain them after growing up, others lose them when reaching maturity.

Endangered Species of Amphibians for Kids in Spanish

endangered species for kids
EnglishSpanish
aquatic salamanderla salamandra acuática
axolotlel ajolote
Chinese giant salamanderla salamandra gigante china
Darwin’s frog la rana de Darwin 
Guatemalan bromeliad salamanderla salamandra guatemalteca de bromelia
harlequin frogla rana arlequín
jumping salamanderla salamandra saltarina 
Lehmann poison frogla rana venenosa de Lehmann
poison dart frogla rana dardo venenosa
tree frogla rana arborícola

Birds (Aves)

Las aves, or birds, are warm-blooded vertebrates that have feathers, toothless beaked jaws, lay eggs and have a lightweight but strong skeletal structure. All birds have wings, although not all of them are able to fly. 

Endangered Bird Species for Kids in Spanish

birds
EnglishSpanish
African grey parrotel loro gris africano
California condorel cóndor californiano
fruit dovelas palomas frugívoras
great curassowel paujíl/ pavón norteño
hooded grebeel macá tobiano
kakapoel kakapo/ kákapu
kiwiel kiwi
military macawel guacamayo militar
northern bald ibisel ibis calvo del norte
philippine eagleel águila filipina
regent honeyeaterel mielero regente 
snowy owlel búho nival
ultramarine lorikeetel lori ultramar
white-rumped vultureel buitre dorsiblanco bengalí

Insects (Los insectos)

Los insectos (insects) are an invertebrate species. They are characterized for having an exoskeleton, a body that is divided in three parts: head, thorax and abdomen, jointed legs, compound eyes and antennae. They are the most diverse species of animals and have more than a million species, which makes experts think that at least 90% of species on our planet are insects. 

Endangered Insect Species for Kids in Spanish

endangered species for kids
EnglishSpanish
barberry carpet mothla polilla del agracejo
beeslas abejas
giant flightless darkling beetleel escarabajo oscuro gigante no volador
monarch butterflyla mariposa monarca
Tahoe stoneflyel plecóptero

Mammals (Los mamíferos)

Los mamíferos (mammals) are a group of vertebrate animals that are mostly characterized for being hot-blooded and having mammary glands. The females of this species produce milk to feed their young. Mammals also characterized themselves for having a neocortex, having fur or hair and three middle ear bones. 

There are around 6,400 species of mammals.

Endangered Mammal Species for Kids in Spanish

endangered species for kids
EnglishSpanish
Amur leopardel leopardo de Amur
black rhinoel rinoceronte negro
blue whaleslas ballenas azules
chimpanzeeel chimpancé
dolphinslos delfines
eastern lowland gorillael gorila de las tierras bajas del este
iberian lynxel línce ibérico 
mandrilel mandril
multi-colored tamarinel tamarino multicolor
orangutanel orangután
panda bearel oso panda
pangolinel pangolín
polar bearel oso polar
Sumatran elephantel elefante de Sumatra 
western lowland gorillael gorila de las tierras bajas del oeste

Reptiles (Los reptíles)

Los reptiles (reptiles) are a classification of animals that are characterized for cold-blooded vertebrates that lay eggs. They usually have four limbs, or at least, came from common ancestors with four legs. While they can be in the water, reptiles can’t live in it, like amphibians. 

As a fun fact, a lot of reptiles are closely related to birds in evolutionary terms. 

Endangered Reptile Species for Kids in Spanish

reptiles
EnglishSpanish
angonoka tortoisela tortuga angonoka
giant tortoisela tortuga gigante
green turtlela tortuga verde
leatherback turtlela tortuga laúd 
loggerhead turtlela tortuga boba
marine iguanala iguana marina
sea turtlela tortuga de mar

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

How Can We Help Endangered Species?

I am glad to tell you that you are already helping endangered species! 

The first step is to learn about them, and you just did, and in English and Spanish!

Not all of us have the opportunity to travel to far away lands to help endangered species, so let’s learn about some resources on endangered species for kids in Spanish.

First, we can use books! Here is a list of 5 of the best books in Spanish to use as resources with our children:

Or you can check this videos on YouTube to learn about this topic in more depth:

All these resources help us to understand about la conservación (conservation) and la protección (protection) of endangered species and their habitats and biomes so we can take action.

But this is not an easy task. 

The protection of endangered species takes a lot of resources, like money, time and space. For some animals to survive, their habitats have to be reconstructed or they have to be relocated in order to survive.

Zoos and sanctuaries play an important role in the conservation of endangered species. While living there is just a shadow of their real homes, these places provide endangered animals a safe haven to survive, reproduce, and thrive.

Another element that can help in the conservation of endangered species is the fight against contamination, deforestation and climate change. Those are issues that concern everyone, and even when governments and giant corporations are the most involved in long term solutions, we can help with small but important actions, like decreasing our carbon print or our waste.

If you want activities about endangered species for kids, you can check our downloadable content for activities to do inside and outside the classroom.

Let’s Learn Spanish To Help Our World

Our world is huge and full of diversity. Just look at how many species of animals live on it! 

Spanish is a great way to expand your child’s global awareness and help them understand diversity! Learning a new language opens our eyes to a world full of new cultures, words, and friends. It also teaches them to respect and celebrate diversity. 

What’s more, young children have an incredible ability to pronounce foreign and unfamiliar sounds and understand complex grammar rules. The earlier they begin, the easier it is for them to learn—although any age is a great time to start! 

Do you need support in your classroom? Homeschool Spanish Academy provides 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students. We can help alleviate the difficulty of having many students of varying levels of performance. Check out our group class page and give a look to the content we can provide you and your children.

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Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

Sharon K, Parent of 3

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

Cindy D, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

Erica P. Parent of 1

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

The post Learn About Endangered Species (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

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All About Vertebrate Animals (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-vertebrate-animals/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-vertebrate-animals/#respond Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=21456 Vertebrate animals are a fascinating topic to familiarize your children with Spanish vocabulary!  The animal kingdom and its curiosities are intriguing for young students. The more you expose your kids and students to a language, the easier it becomes for them to use it intuitively.  Boost your child’s confidence in the Spanish language, and elevate […]

The post All About Vertebrate Animals (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

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Vertebrate animals are a fascinating topic to familiarize your children with Spanish vocabulary! 

The animal kingdom and its curiosities are intriguing for young students. The more you expose your kids and students to a language, the easier it becomes for them to use it intuitively. 

Boost your child’s confidence in the Spanish language, and elevate their skills with this activity-packed kid’s guide to vertebrate animals.

What Are Vertebrate Animals?

Our planet’s living beings are divided into reinos (kingdoms). El reino animal (animal kingdom) contains two large groups: los animales vertebrados (vertebrate animals) and los animales invertebrados (invertebrate animals). 

Los animales vertebrados have a backbone. La columna vertebral is a column of bones that work as support for the body. It protects the médula espinal (spinal cord). 

The esqueleto (skeleton) of vertebrate animals is made of bones and cartílago (cartilage). Vertebrate animals are also called cordados (chordata). 

See also: Kid’s Guide to Invertebrate Animals

Worksheet

Download FREE Vertebrate Animals in Spanish Activities for Kids!

Type your name and email below to get five activities for kids about vertebrate animals in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Types of Vertebrate Animals

Los humanos (human beings) are vertebrates. Our spinal cord is of great importance to our body’s functions. Our skeleton protects our internal organs.

Vertebrate animals are categorized into five groups. Let’s dive deep into each one of them!

1. Mammals (Mamíferos)

Mamíferos are animals that have mamas (mammary glands). They feed and nourish their newborns with leche materna (breast milk). Baby mammals rely on their parents for protection and feeding. 

Los mamíferos terrestres (ground mammals) have fur to keep them warm. Los mamíferos marinos (marine mammals) have smooth skin made of a layer of fat. All mammals have warm blood. Humans are mammals!

Some mammals are carnivoros (carnivorous) and others are vegetarian. Carnivorous mammals are on the top of the food chain. They’re some of the largest animals and depredadores (predators) in the world. Other mammals are small, such as los roedores (rodents).  

Well-Known Mammals

EnglishSpanish
batel murciélago
cowla vaca
dolphinel delfín
elephantel elefante
killer whalela orca
lionel león
monkeyel mono
rabbitel conejo
sealla foca
zebrala cebra
vertebrate animals

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los mamíferos tienen mamas para alimentar a sus crías.
Mammals have mammary glands for feeding their newborns. 

Los mamíferos marinos tienen una capa de grasa y piel lisa.
Marine mammals have a layer of fat and smooth skin.

Los mamíferos tienen sangre caliente.
Mammals have warm blood. 

Existen mamíferos de diferentes tamaños.
There are mammals of different sizes. 

Los mamíferos más pequeños son roedores.
The smallest mammals are rodents.

Hay mamíferos carnívoros y vegetarianos.
There are carnivorous and vegetarian mammals.

2. Reptiles (Reptiles)

Los reptiles (reptiles) are vertebrate animals with escamas (scales) and dry skin. They have sangre fría (cold blood) to regulate their temperature according to their habitat. 

Reptiles are descendants of los dinosaurios (dinosaurs). Their ancestry makes them the oldest animals on our planet! Some are herbivoros (plant eaters or herbivores), while the majority feed on other smaller animals. 

Reptiles reproduce by laying eggs, which means they are ovíparos (oviparous). There are both land-dwelling and aquatic reptiles. Their habitats include grasslands, forests, wetlands, ocean waters, and deserts. 

Some reptiles have a caparazón (shell), like turtles and tortoises. There are also reptiles that lack limbs, like snakes. 

Well-Known Reptiles

EnglishSpanish
alligatorel caimán
chameleonel camaleón
crocodileel cocodrilo
green iguanala iguana verde
Komodo dragonel dragón de Komodo
pythonla pitón
rattlesnakela serpiente cascabel
turtlela tortuga 
vertebrate animals

Example Sentences in Spanish

Las tortugas son reptiles y tienen caparazón.
Turtles are reptiles and have a shell.

El caimán y el cocodrilo son reptiles.
Alligators and crocodiles are reptiles.

Los reptiles son descendientes de los dinosaurios.
Reptiles are descendants of dinosaurs.

Los reptiles son animales de sangre fría y viven en ambientes cálidos.
Reptiles are cold-blooded animals and live in warm environments.

Los reptiles son ovíparos, es decir, se reproducen por medio de huevos.
Reptiles are oviparous, meaning they reproduce by laying eggs. 

Algunos reptiles son herbívoros, pero la mayoría son carnívoros.
Some reptiles are herbivores, but the majority are carnivores.

See also: Kid’s Guide to Dinosaurs in Spanish 

3. Amphibians (Anfibios)

Los anfibios are vertebrate animals that spend a part of their lives in water habitats. They are similar to reptiles, as both are cold-blooded. Amphibians include sapos (toads), ranas (frogs), salamandras (salamanders), and tritones (newts). 

There are approximately 7,500 species of amphibians in the world. Most amphibians go through metamorfosis (metamorphosis). 

The first part of their life takes place in water, and the rest they live as mostly land-dwellers. Most amphibians live near natural bodies of fresh water. They are oviparous and reproduce 

by laying fertilized eggs. 

Well-Known Amphibians

EnglishSpanish
bullfrogel bufo
California newtel tritón de California
salamanderla salamandra 
Mexican burrowing caecilianla tepelcua
poison dart-frogla rana dardo venenoso
red-eyed treefrogla rana arborícola de ojos rojos
amphibians

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los anfibios comen de todo, son omnívoros.
Amphibians eat everything; they are omnivorous. 

Habitan cerca de cuerpos de agua dulce.
They live near fresh bodies of water.

Son ovíparos y se reproducen por medio de huevos fertilizados.
They are oviparous and reproduce through fertilized eggs. 

Existen aproximadamente 7,500 diferentes especies de anfibios. 
There are approximately 7,500 different species of amphibians.

Los anfibios atraviesan un proceso de cambios físicos llamados metamorfosis.
Amphibians go through a series of physical changes called metamorphosis.

La primera parte del ciclo de vida de los anfibios es en el agua.
The first part of an amphibian’s life cycle takes place in water. 

Explore the marvelous world of anfibios with this insightful Kid’s Guide to Amphibians with free PDFs and printables. 

4. Birds (Aves)

Las aves are some of the most peculiar and colorful vertebrate animals that exist. There are close to 10,000 species of birds.

Birds don’t have teeth, they have picos (bills or beaks). Their bodies are covered in plumas (feathers). Birds have alas (wings) that allow them to fly. They use their muscles to flap their wings and take flight. 

However, not all species of birds can fly. Some swim, flock, or run. Birds have warm blood and breathe through their lungs. They reproduce by laying eggs, which they nest until their babies become fully grown chicks. 

Birds have a diverse diet of insectos (insects), frutas (fruits), hojas (leaves), carne (meat), and semillas (seeds). Many follow migration patterns to escape the cold season. 

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Well-Known Birds

EnglishSpanish
bald eagleel águila calva
hummingbirdel colibrí
ostrichel avestruz
penguinel pingüino 
peacockel pavo real
peregrine falconel halcón peregrino
parrotel loro
scarlet macawla guacamaya
toucanel tucán
vultureel buitre
woodpeckerel pájaro carpintero
birds

Example Sentences in Spanish

Las aves no tienen diente, tienen pico.
Birds don’t have teeth, they have a beak.

Las aves están cubiertas de plumas.
Birds are covered in feathers.

Algunas aves migran para escapar del frío.
Some birds migrate to escape the cold. 

La guacamaya y el tucán son aves coloridas.
Macaws and toucans are colorful birds.

El pingüino real es un ave del Ártico.
The king penguin is a bird of the Arctic.

No todas las especies de aves vuelan, como por ejemplo la avestruz.
Not all bird species fly, like the ostrich for example. 

Teach your kids All About the Peacock in Spanish with this joyful lesson! 

5. Fish (Peces)

Los peces (fish) are unique vertebrate animals. They make up half of all vertebrate species. There are approximately 30,000 fish species. 

Fish live all over the world in lakes, creeks, swamps, rivers, ponds, lagoons, and the ocean. They are 100% acuaticos (aquatic) and breathe through branquias (gills). 

Their bodies are covered in escamas (scales), and they have aletas (fins) for moving around. They were the first vertebrate to inhabit the Earth. 

Fish come in all colors and shapes. The largest fish known to man are los tiburones (sharks). Las mantarrayas (stingrays), los caballitos de mar (seahorses), and las anguilas (eels) are also fish. 

Most fish feed on microscopic organisms called plankton. But some species feed on smaller species. Fish reproduce by laying fertilized eggs.

Well-Known Fish

EnglishSpanish
angelfishel pez ángel
catfishel bagre
clownfishel pez payaso
grouperel mero
great white sharkel tiburón blanco
piranhala piraña
pufferfishel pez globo
salmonel salmón
swordfishel pez espada
vertebrate animals

Example Sentences in Spanish

La mitad de los animales vertebrados son peces.
Half of the vertebrate animals are fish.

Los peces tienen aletas para movilizarse.
Fish have fins for moving around. 

Las mantarrayas y los tiburones también son peces.
Stingrays and sharks are also fish.

Los peces se reproducen por medio de huevos fertilizados.
Fish reproduce through fertilized eggs.

El pez más grande es el tiburón blanco.
The largest fish is the great white shark. 

Algunos peces se alimentan de plancton y otros de animales más pequeños.
Some fish feed on plankton and others on smaller animals. 

A diferencia de otros animales vertebrados, los peces respiran por medio de branquias.
Unlike other vertebrate animals, fish breathe through gills. 

Hand-picked for you: A Kid’s Guide to the Ocean and Its Animals in Spanish 

Vertebrate Animals in Spanish Activities

Vertebrate Animals in Spanish Word Search

Use our sopa de letras (word search) and have your students look for vocabulary words from this lesson. Word search reinforces Spanish reading skills and requires uninterrupted attention. 

Flashcards and DIY Field Guides

Print out our flashcards of vertebrate animal species. The drawings and illustrations on the cards are perfect for the children to color and get creative. 

Have the students use the field guide template to classify each animal on the cards according to their corresponding groups.

This activity is ideal for testing their memory of the content covered in this lesson. It’s ideal for visual learners to retain concepts and Spanish words. Use the example sentences to give them clues. 

Visit Your Local Zoo or Aquarium

Take this lesson out on the road and plan a visit to your town’s zoo or aquarium.

 The best way for your students to fully grasp the characteristics of vertebrate animals is by seeing them in action.

Create a space for discussion after the visit where you encourage sentence building and Spanish conversation among students. 

Vertebrate Animals True or False Worksheet

Quiz your students on this lesson with a true or false worksheet. This activity may be challenging, but it’s also a great way to test their overall understanding of the concepts shown. It’s fantastic for supporting reading comprehension and conversation.

Have the students read their answers out loud and explain why they chose their answers. 

Vertebrate Animals in Spanish Videos

Loads of educational videos support kids in Spanish listening, pronunciation, and fluency. 

Keep Your Child On Track to Fluency

Animals are truly an engaging and rich topic for you to support your child’s Spanish skills. Discover other captivating topics for your Spanish classroom with the support of our wonderful team of certified teachers. They are equipped to provide 1-on-1 or 2-on-1 online Spanish classes for K-12 students, alleviating the stress of having students at different levels. Take a free trial class and see what our amazing team can do for your students to help them become confident Spanish speakers. 

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Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

Sharon K, Parent of 3

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

- William R, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

Erica P. Parent of 1

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!

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Understanding Biomes and Habitats (Free Spanish Lessons for Kids) https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-biomes-and-habitats-in-spanish/ https://www.spanish.academy/blog/a-kids-guide-to-biomes-and-habitats-in-spanish/#respond Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:30:00 +0000 https://www.spanish.academy/?p=20768 With this guide to biomes and habitats in Spanish, your kids will enjoy a cool nature and Spanish lesson! Take a look at the new vocabulary words and class activities that you can implement in your next lesson to make it a memorable one! Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡️Enjoy over 70 unique […]

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With this guide to biomes and habitats in Spanish, your kids will enjoy a cool nature and Spanish lesson!

Take a look at the new vocabulary words and class activities that you can implement in your next lesson to make it a memorable one!

biomes in Spanish

Download FREE Biomes and Habitats in Spanish Activity for Kids!

Type your name and email below to get your free activity for kids about the Biomes and Habitats in Spanish!

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

What Are Biomes and Habitats?

Since the terms “biome” and “habitat” are not common in everyday conversation, let’s check out the differences!

Biomes

Biome is a general term that defines an area with a specific climate that is home to a community of living things. Here are some vocabulary words to talk about biomes in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
biomeel bioma
biospherela biósfrea
biotala biota
bioticbiótico/a
climateel clima
climate changeel cambio climático
ecologyla ecología
ecosystemel ecosistema
environmentel ambiente
faunala fauna
florala flora

Example Sentences in Spanish

Un bioma es una comunidad de plantas y animales que viven en el mismo clima.
A biome is a community of plants and animals that live in the same climate.

Biota se refiere al grupo de organismos vivos de un área específica.
Biota refers to the group of living organisms of a specific area.

Un ecosistema es la interacción entre la biota y el ambiente.
An ecosystem is the interaction between biota and its environment.

La ecología estudia la relación entre organismos vivos y su entorno.
Ecology studies the relationship between living organisms and their surroundings. 

habitats

Types of Biomes

Because biomes refer to the territory that is home to different types of animal and plant species, we divide them into two main categories. Check out these vocabulary words for types of biomes in Spanish!

Terrestrial Biomes

EnglishSpanish
coniferous forest biomesel bosque conífero
deciduous forest biomesel bosque caducifolio
desert biomesel desierto
grassland biomesla pradera
tropical rainforest biomesla selva tropical
tropical wet forest biomesel bosque tropical
tundra biomesla tundra

PRO TIP: Use el bioma de before these vocabulary words. For example: El bioma de desierto. 

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los biomas de tundra tienen inviernos largos. 
Tundra biomes have long winters.

Los animales de la tundra tienen pelajes abundantes.
Tundra animals have abundant fur.

Los biomas de pradera están en todos los continentes excepto Antártica. 
Grassland biomes are on every continent except Antarctica. 

Encontramos biomas de bosques caducifolios en Norte América, Europa y Asia.
We find deciduous forest biomes in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Aquatic Biomes

Aquatic biomes have two classifications: freshwater and marine biomes. Check out this awesome list of words related to aquatic biomes in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
Arctic Oceanel Océano Ártico
Atlantic Oceanel Océano Atlántico
freshwater biomeel bioma de agua dulce
Indian Oceanel Océano Índico
lakeel lago
marine biomeel bioma marino
Pacific Oceanel Océano Pacífico
riverel río
streamel arroyo
pondel estanque
oceanel océano
salty seaslos mares salados

See also: A Kid’s Guide to the Water Cycle in Spanish

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los biomas acuáticos varían según la profundidad del agua y la temperatura.
Aquatic biomes vary according to water depth and temperature.

Los océanos cubren más del 70% de la superficie de la Tierra.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface.

El océano se divide en cuatro regiones: Pacífico, Atlántico, Ártico e Índico.
The ocean is divided in four regions: Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian. 

biomes in Spanish

Habitats

A habitat is specific to an animal species. It refers to the specific area with the proper conditions for an animal species to live and reproduce. Here are some useful words to talk about habitats in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
animalel animal
foodla comida
habitatel hábitat
organismel organismo
shelterel albergue
spaceel espacio
survivalla sobrevivencia
to reproducereproducirse
waterel agua

Example Sentences in Spanish

Un hábitat es el lugar donde un organismo vive.
A habitat is the place where an organism lives.

Los animales deben poder reproducirse en su hábitat.
Animals need to be able to reproduce in their habitat.

Un hábitat debe tener las condiciones para la sobrevivencia de un organismo.
A habitat needs to have the conditions for an organism’s survival.

Los componentes de un hábitat son albergue, agua, comida y espacio.
The components of a habitat are shelter, water, food, and space.

Types of Habitats

EnglishSpanish
aquatic habitatslos hábitats acuáticos
caveslas cuevas
desertslos desiertos
grasslandslas praderas
forestslos bosques
rainforestslas selvas
territoryel territorio
tundrala tundra
valleyslos valles

Example Sentences in Spanish

Los valles se crean por la presencia de ríos y glaciares.
Valleys are created by the presence of rivers and glaciers.

Las cuevas se pueden formar en acantilados o en glaciares.
Caves can form in cliffs or glaciers.

Las praderas tienen abundante vegetación.
Grasslands have abundant vegetation.

Existen desiertos cálidos y desiertos fríos.
There are hot deserts and cold deserts.

biomes in Spanish

Explore more FREE SPANISH LESSONS FOR KIDS! ➡
Enjoy over 70 unique lessons + free activity packets to download.

Describing Biomes and Habitats

So, a biome refers to a large area that houses living things that tolerate the same climate; a habitat is the area that a specific species lives in.

Therefore, there can be many habitats within a biome. With these vocabulary words, you can describe and discuss biomes and habitats in Spanish!

EnglishSpanish
coldfrío/a
damphúmedo/a
dryseco/a
hotcálido/a
high temperatureslas temperaturas altas
low temperatureslas temperaturas bajas
long dayslos días largos
precipitationla precipitación
rainfallla lluvia
rangeel rango
seasonalityla estacionalidad
scarceescaso/a
short dayslos días cortos
sunlightla luz del sol
wethúmedo/a

Example Sentences in Spanish

Las temperaturas en la tundra son bajas.
Temperatures in the tundra are low.

El rango de temperatura de los bosques tropicales es de 68°F – 93°F.
The temperature range of tropical wet forests is 68°F – 93°F.

Las praderas tienen pocos árboles por la baja precipitación anual.
Grasslands have few trees due to the low annual precipitation. 

Nature Vocabulary 

Here are some cool words to include in your lessons to talk about nature and the interaction of species within a biome!

EnglishSpanish
cliffel acantilado
droughtla sequía
food chainla cadena alimenticia
huntla cacería
mudel lodo
oxygenel oxígeno
parkel parque
plantslas plantas
predatorel depredador
preyla presa
soilel suelo
swampel pantano
treeslos árboles
to thrivedesenvolverse

Hand-picked for you: A Kid’s Guide to the Amazon Rainforest in Spanish 

Example Sentences in Spanish

Las plantas liberan oxígeno y absorben dióxido de carbono.
Plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

Los leones son depredadores que capturan a su presa para alimentarse.
Lions are predators that capture their prey to feed.

Los organismos necesitan el ambiente adecuado para desenvolverse.
Organisms need the appropriate environment to thrive.

habitats

Elements of a Memorable Lesson

Implement these activities in your lessons to become your kids’ favorite teacher!

Videos

For some kids, it’s easier to learn new vocabulary when they are seeing images associated with the topic. Check out these awesome videos that will make it easier to explain biomes and habitats in Spanish!

Coloring Sheets

With fun worksheets for kids to identify the various vocabulary words seen here, they can have a great time while they learn new words and interesting facts about biomes and habitats in Spanish.

Identify the Habitat

Use prints of each biome to have your kids identify what habitat they are in Spanish! 

Biomes and Habitats in Spanish – Resources

Prepare unforgettable lessons and enhance your kids’ reading habits with these illustrated books about biomes and habitats in Spanish!

The Importance of Preserving Habitats

Preserving habitats means preserving our own life! Living in a balanced environment means all species benefit from others and thrive in the appropriate conditions. 

While every habitat is important for preserving our planet, oceans are surely the ones that have the biggest impact on our well-being. Oceans help regulate the global climate. Because of climate change, our oceans are getting warmer. Warmer oceans threaten coral reefs and disrupt the food chain, therefore affecting biodiversity and wildlife balance. 

Due to Earth’s population increasing, natural habitats for wildlife are decreasing. The less space species have to survive, the less they can fulfill their survival needs and reproduce. 

Harmful human-led activities like deforestation cause erosion and loss of soil along with the loss of biodiversity. This can only lead to massive extinction and drastic changes in nature’s balance. 

Habitat conservation is essential to guarantee our survival and a life with nature all around us. 

Learn more about habitat conservation and make a change today!

Improve Your Students’ Spanish Skills

While you love teaching, we know it’s challenging at times! Let us help with our 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 online Spanish classes! Check out our group classes specially designed for schools to step up their Spanish teaching game!

If you are a parent and want to improve your kids’ learning journey, sign up for a free trial class today and give us a chance to prove how fun and effective our lessons with native Spanish speakers are! Homeschool Spanish Academy is the perfect place for kids to begin their bilingual journey! 

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free Spanish class button

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

- William R, Parent of 3

“My Son, Heath, is taking the classes. He’s been with Luisa the entire time and we absolutely love her. She is always patient and is a great teacher. Heath’s dad speaks Spanish so they get to have little conversations.”

– William R, Parent of 3

Cindy D, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

- Karie Ann, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

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