🎮 Practice Game · Spanish · Novice Mid

🌀 Ruleta de las Estaciones Spinner Speaking & Writing Game — Weather, Seasons & Preterite -ar Verbs

👥 2–4 players ⏱ 20–30 min 🏆 Points-based 🎯 Novice Mid Teacher: Nelson Valdivia
🎯 Can-Do: I can use preterite -ar verbs and seasonal vocabulary in spoken and written responses.

¡Bienvenidos a la Ruleta de las Estaciones! / Welcome to the Seasons Spinner!

Spin the wheel to get a category — 🌊 Verano, ⛷️ Invierno, or 🌀 Comodín (Wild) — then draw a prompt card and respond in Spanish using seasonal vocabulary and preterite -ar verbs. Score points for each correct response. First to 20 points wins!

Gira la ruleta para obtener una categoría, luego responde en español usando vocabulario estacional y verbos en pretérito.

📋 How to Play / Cómo Jugar
English
1
Spin the wheel — click SPIN below or use a physical spinner. Land on Verano ☀️, Invierno ❄️, or Comodín 🌀.
2
Draw a prompt card from the matching color pile (or use the list below). Read your prompt.
3
Respond in Spanish — speaking OR writing, depending on the card. Use at least one preterite -ar verb.
4
Score points — opponents vote: 👍 correct (earn points) or 👎 try again. Teacher resolves disputes.
5
First to 20 points wins! Comodín cards are worth double.
Español
1
Gira la ruleta — haz clic en GIRAR o usa una ruleta física. Cae en Verano ☀️, Invierno ❄️, o Comodín 🌀.
2
Saca una tarjeta del color correspondiente. Lee tu pregunta o instrucción.
3
Responde en español — hablando O escribiendo. Usa al menos un verbo en pretérito.
4
Gana puntos — tus compañeros votan: 👍 correcto o 👎 intenta de nuevo.
5
¡El primero en llegar a 20 puntos gana!
🌀 Digital Spinner / Ruleta Digital
🃏 Full Prompt Card Set — Print & Cut / Imprime y Corta

Print this section, cut out the cards, and sort into three piles by color. ☀️ Yellow = Verano, 🔵 Blue = Invierno, 🟣 Purple = Comodín.

🌊 VERANO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Name 3 beach vocabulary words in Spanish.
Nombra 3 palabras de vocabulario de la playa.
🌊 VERANO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Say what you (yo) did last summer. Use 2 -ar preterite verbs.
Di qué hiciste el verano pasado. Usa 2 verbos en pretérito.
🌊 VERANO — 3 pts — WRITING
Write 2 sentences about what a friend did at the beach last summer.
Escribe 2 oraciones sobre lo que hizo un/a amigo/a en la playa.
🌊 VERANO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Complete: "En el verano, hace ______ y yo _______."
Completa la oración con vocabulario correcto.
⛷️ INVIERNO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Name 3 winter vocabulary words in Spanish.
Nombra 3 palabras de vocabulario del invierno.
⛷️ INVIERNO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Say what you did last winter. Use preterite -ar verbs (yo form).
Di qué hiciste el invierno pasado. Usa la forma yo del pretérito.
⛷️ INVIERNO — 3 pts — WRITING
Write 2 sentences: what the weather is like in the mountains AND what someone does there.
Escribe sobre el tiempo en las montañas y qué hace alguien allí.
⛷️ INVIERNO — 2 pts — SPEAKING
Complete: "En el invierno, _____ mucho y mi amigo/a _______."
Completa con vocabulario y verbo en pretérito.
🌀 COMODÍN — 4 pts — SPEAKING
Compare summer and winter weather in Spanish. 3 sentences.
Compara el tiempo en verano e invierno. 3 oraciones.
🌀 COMODÍN — 4 pts — CHALLENGE
Tell the class about a vacation you took (real or imaginary). 3 sentences + 2 preterite verbs.
Habla de unas vacaciones reales o imaginarias. 3 oraciones + 2 verbos en pretérito.
🌀 COMODÍN — 4 pts — CULTURAL
Name a Spanish-speaking country and say what season activity is famous there.
Nombra un país hispanohablante y di qué actividad estacional es famosa allí.
🌀 COMODÍN — 4 pts — WRITING
Write a 3-sentence "postcard" from a Spanish-speaking country in any season. Use 2 preterite verbs.
Escribe una "tarjeta postal" de 3 oraciones desde un país hispanohablante.
🏆 Score Tracker / Marcador
Jugador / Player 1
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📖 Player Reference Card — Keep on your desk! / Guarda esto en tu mesa

🌊 Vocabulario — El Verano / La Playa

  • la playa the beach
  • el sol the sun
  • las olas the waves
  • nadar to swim
  • tomar el sol to sunbathe
  • caminar en la playa to walk on the beach
  • hace calor it's hot
  • hace sol it's sunny
  • el protector solar sunscreen
  • la sombrilla beach umbrella

⛷️ Vocabulario — El Invierno / La Nieve

  • la nieve snow
  • la montaña the mountain
  • los esquís skis
  • esquiar to ski
  • patinar to ice skate
  • practicar deportes to practice sports
  • hace frío it's cold
  • nieva it snows
  • el abrigo coat
  • el chocolate caliente hot chocolate
⚡ Pretérito -ar Verbs — Quick Reference (yo / tú / él-ella)
Infinitiveyotúél / ella
nadarnadénadastenadó
esquiaresquiéesquiasteesquió
caminarcaminécaminastecaminó
tomartométomastetomó
practicarpractiquépracticastepracticó
patinarpatinépatinastepatinó
🎨 Differentiation / Diferenciación
Below Level

Students keep the reference card visible. Allow responses of single words or short phrases. Accept English + Spanish mix as communication.

On Level

Standard rules. At least one preterite -ar verb per response. Sentence frames available on request only.

Above Level / Heritage

Must use nosotros or ellos/ellas forms for bonus points. Encourage cultural connection to earn Comodín wild card points.

Social Justice Connection (DI.9-12.9): During Comodín cultural cards, encourage students to share their own family's seasonal traditions alongside Spanish-speaking country examples. Normalize all traditions as equally valid — the goal is curiosity and comparison, not ranking.
Standards: ACTFL Novice Mid Communication — Interpersonal / Presentational 5 Cs: Communication · Cultures · Comparisons · Communities DI.9-12.9 ID.9-12.3 RIPTS 4
Nelson Valdivia · Spanish / World Languages · Practice Game · Ruleta de las Estaciones