Kaleigh Baker, OWLA Editor for Electronic Media
Spanish Teacher, Covington High School

The end of the school year always brings lots to do both professionally and personally, especially if you also have school-aged children in addition to those in your classroom! If you are like me, one of the things that gets shoved off the plate is Spanish Club. My officers have senioritis, and between state testing and all of the other interruptions, Spanish Club is just not a priority.

Fortunately, this year I found a colleague in a neighboring district who is willing to share her wonderful ideas, and in addition to a few of my own, I have a few end-of-the-year activities for Spanish Club that are easy to implement with little to no prep—just a quick purchase at Amazon or Walmart!

First up is candy tasting. Amazon has really upped its selection of Mexican and Latin American candy. If you are local to the Dayton area, there is a Hispanic Grocery Store in Huber Heights with some amazing options. I got five options for my students, and we taste-tested them together, then wrote down our ratings and reactions on a separate worksheet. It was really fun to try them in a group!

Another really fun option is aguas frescas. Once again, Amazon comes to the rescue with these stick packs that make it really easy! I recommend having the kids bring in a bottle of water, adding a stick pack, and then provide cut-up fresh limes for the finishing touch. They really enjoyed the flavor combinations.

Another drink option I was told about was horchata. Walmart sells a horchata concentrate, and another colleague of mine said it was a big hit and very easy and affordable to do!

Finally, if you want an easy craft, Ojo de Dios is always a big hit. Yarn is relatively inexpensive, and you probably already have some popsicle sticks from other crafts. Find a template online and get to work! Students really enjoy choosing their color combinations and having a finished product to take home.

Hopefully, you are able to try one of these ideas this year! If not, write these down and save them for next year.