Día de las Américas: 14 de Abril Spanish Class Activities

Dia de las Americas, or Day of the Americas, is an annual holiday celebrated in Latin America on April 14th. The holiday celebrates the political and cultural solidarity among Latin American countries. It commemorates the establishment of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocity signed in 1890 by the United States and various countries in Central and South America. The day is meant to recognize each country’s culture, language, history, and shared heritage. Dia de las Americas is a time for people to come together to appreciate the beauty and rich history of the Latin American culture.

• Spanish Speaking Countries Mini Lesson Plan for Spanish 1 (Lección Preliminar) – Students work in groups to learn basic facts about Spanish-speaking countries. They will create a collaborative board online and present it to the class.
• FREE 60 Scenes from Spanish-speaking Countries Printable Posters – Decorate your Spanish classroom to welcome your students to the beginning of the school year or during Hispanic Heritage Month with these 11″ x 17″ printable posters. 

• Spanish-Speaking Countries Video Playlists and Discussion Questions – A total of 21 playlists for your Spanish classes! Each playlist includes short videos in English (or subtitled) to introduce a Spanish-speaking country. These videos are ideal to use at the beginning of the school year, during Hispanic Heritage Month, or just throughout the year.

• Spanish Song: Calaverita by La Santa Cecilia – Present Tense – With this song, your students will practice Present Tense and Mexican Traditions by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document. This Spanish song cloze activity includes three versions, the video link, and a short artist bio. Choose the version that is most suitable for your student’s level.

• Spanish Song: México en la piel by Luis Miguel – Vocabulary: Mexican culture – With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Mexican culture or vocabulario: la cultura mexicana by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document. This Spanish song cloze activity includes three versions, the video link, and a short artist bio. Choose the version that is most suitable for your student’s level.

• El calor de una sonrisa: Spanish Song to Practice Listening Comprehension – This PDF includes 6 classroom activities with the Spanish song “El calor de una sonrisa.” This is a beautiful song that describes and invites us to visit the city of Sevilla in Spain. The document includes a link to the music video that includes footage from the city.

• Spanish Song: Preciosa by Marc Anthony – Vocabulary: Love for the Country – With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Love for the Country or vocabulario: amor por la patria (Puerto Rico) by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Muévete by Rubén Blades: Spanish Song to Names of the Spanish Speaking Countries – You can use all of the activities or pick only the ones suitable for your classes. Click here to download your blank copies of the handouts. 

• Spanish Song: 300 kilos by Los Coyotes: Spanish Speaking Countries and Culture – With this song, your students will learn about Spanish Speaking Countries and Culture by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Spanish Song: La puerta de Alcala: Ana Belén y Victor Manuel: History of Madrid – With this song, your students will practice History of Madrid by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Spanish Song: Ella y él by Ricardo Arjona: Contrast between Cuba and USA – With this song, your students will practice Contrast between Cuba and USA by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Spanish Song: La Gozadera by Gente de Zona ft Marc Anthony – With this song, your students will practice Names of the Spanish Speaking Countries or Países de habla hispana by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.