Classroom Routines in Spanish: Clean Up

Students need classroom routines in Spanish. The structure lets them predict what will happen during transitions, and routines are an opportunity to teach language. Use these resources to teach students the language for cleaning up and saying goodbye at the end of class.

Predictability is an important tool in language learning. When students can predictably relate words to a context, they can figure out the meaning.  Classroom routines in Spanish also provide the repetition kids need to learn. Ideally, we use the same vocabulary during these routines. Our instructional time is precious, so we also want our classroom routines in Spanish to be efficient! The best way to have a quick, fun, language-packed closing routine is to have a song for cleaning up and saying goodbye.

Song for Classroom Routines in Spanish

The song A limpiar lets students know it is time to clean up. Students learn that when they hear this song start to play, they need to get ready to go. Listen to A limpiar and download the free illustrated lyric sheet.

To teach the song, create actions for key vocabulary and do them together as you sing: decir adiós - talking motion with hand then waving, limpiar - sweeping/dusting action, recoger - bending over and picking up, ordenar - stacking, cada cosa en su lugar - putting books on shelves. Of course, once kids know the song, there is built in TPR as they clean up at the end of each class!

After you have sung the song through at least once, use the pictures on the lyric sheet to reinforce the vocabulary by asking choice questions:
¿Dicen hola o adiós?
¿Limpian o estudian?
¿Recicla el papel o los libros?
¿Va a recoger o reciclar?
¿Ordena papeles o libros?

Video for Classroom Routines in Spanish

You can also show students an excellent music video of A limpiar. The animation is fun, and it clearly shows the actions with the verbs. As students sing along, they watch and learn. Use the video to ask the questions above. Using the video as a group is a good way to keep all students engaged. Watch the video of A limpiar.

Worksheet for Classroom Routines in Spanish

Students need focused practice with the vocabulary from the song:

• Do an action and have students point to it on the lyric sheet or say what you are doing.
• Describe a picture on the lyric sheet and have students point to it or say what you are describing.
• Use the worksheet for A limpiar. The worksheet has word-to-picture matching, pair activities, an illustrated reading with comprehension questions and a word search. Get the worksheet for A limpiar.

Interactive Games for Classroom Routines in Spanish

Online games are another way to reinforce the vocabulary associated with cleaning up. Interactive games make learning the words for classroom routines in Spanish fun, and they can be used independently. Students learn at different rates, and these games let them challenge themselves. If your classroom set-up allows, interactive games are also a great option for fast finishers. Find the online games for A limipiar here.

Extension Activities for Classroom Routines in Spanish

You can extend the learning in the song by doing a variety of activities.

• Personalize song by adding details for your classroom. Make a poster with the information and add pictures of students doing the tasks:

Limpiar - barrer, limpiar mesas, etc.
Recoger - bloques, marcadores, etc.
Ordenar - papeles, carpetas, mesas, libros, etc.

• Act out part of the reading on the worksheet or do it as a reader’s theater.
• Do activities to expand on the structure es hora de...  with sentences such as Es hora de comer, Es hora de dormir, Es hora de irnos.
• Introduce other ways to say goodbye such as chau, hasta luego, hasta pronto, etc.