
It is that time of the year when we start planning our summer themed lessons. Summer themed lessons can be tricky when you make your activities around summer plans and vacations. Keep in mind that probably not all kids are able to travel for many reasons. For this reason, I like to center my end of the year lessons on themes like lemonade stands, the beach (general vocabulary and not as a summer plan lesson) and our ultimate favorite ice creams and popsicles. Check this blog post for 3 low prep summer themed activities for your Elementary Spanish lessons.
Here are some ideas for your lessons:
Review me gusta/no me gusta and tengo/no tengo

No need to get super crafty. Get assorted colored paper letter sized sheets and cut them in 8 pieces. Get some popsicle sticks and invite students to make their own popsicles. You can use this activity to review colors and numbers.
¿Cuántas paletas tienes? (Review numbers)
¿Tienes morado en tu paleta? (Review colors)
¿Quién tiene una paleta naranja? (Review yo tengo and no tengo)
You can invite student to make more than one paleta to review numbers. You can also get creative and make small scraps of paper and introduce the word chispas.
Read stories about Paletas
It is not secret that I LOVE diverse and authentic books. If you are looking for authentic books for summer season, check these 3 books that are perfect to introduce your paleta themed unit. For follow up activities you can always ask students to
- draw your favorite part of the story
- re tell a story to a friend
- create an alternative book cover
- imagine a sequel
- share an interesting fact I learned from the story
Mr. Macaw’s Paleta Adventure by Leticia Ordaz

A lovely story about a guacamayo and his adventures all over Mexico. This is a touch and feel book, perfect for your little ones.

This is a perfect emergent reader to review vocabulary about flavors and colors. Even though “raspados” are not the same as paletas, it falls as a summer treat on anybody’s list.

This is a heartwarming story about a boy who wants to buy a paleta from the Paletero Man, but finds some surprises on his way to the park. This book has a song available to accompany this summer story. Check the lyric video here.
Students can create their own helados and paletas
Allow your students to be creative and share their own helados and paletas. Invite them to share about their creations
¿Qué color es tu paleta?
¿Tiene chispas tu helado/paleta?
¿De qué sabor es tu helado/paleta?
You can download this freebie with more activities here.
I hope you find these ideas useful for your lessons. Remember to make fun, communication and expression your core elements for your lessons. What are you planning to do for your last unit in your classroom?


Resources you will like

Ice Cream Truck in Spanish – El Camion de Helados – Distance Learning Bundle
Looking for a resource to review vocabulary about El Camion de los Helados. This digital bundle will help your students review vocabulary in context. This bundle includes Boom Cards and Google Slides to help your students with lessons about El Camion de los Helados.
Files included
GOOGLE SLIDES
- Editable remote learning agenda
- Picture dictionary with 10 vocabulary words
- Match the name to the picture activity
- Match the picture to the sentence activity
- Build the sentences activity
- Read and answer the questions
- Build your own ice cream
- Read and choose the right ice cream cone
- Read and highlight key words
- Answer Key
BOOM CARDS SET 1
- Look at the picture, choose the correct answer.
- Read and choose true or false.
- Look at the picture. Choose the correct sentence that matches the picture.
- Listen, read and answer the questions.
BOOM CARDS SET 2
- Look at the picture, choose the correct answer.
- Read and choose true or false.
- Look at the picture. Choose the correct sentence that matches the picture.
- Listen, read and answer the questions.
Vocabulary included
- Cono
- chocolate
- Vainilla
- Frutilla
- Limon
- chispas
- Cereza
- Paleta de chocolate
- Paleta de frutilla
- Paleta de frutas
- Paleta de limon
- El camion
- La nina
- El nino
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