Spanish-speaking and bilingual students in grades 3 through 6 working on non-literal language (lenguaje no literal) and Spanish idioms.

Are these expressions used everywhere Spanish is spoken?

These eight are widely understood across Latin America and Spain. Families may use other expressions too, and adding a family's own expressions in the Activity Studio makes the board even more relevant.

Can I change the items?

Yes. Open it in the Activity Studio, edit or add items and keep the same board, or switch it to another template that fits the content.

Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

¿Qué quiere decir? Expresiones del español

Ocho expresiones comunes del español en una oración. El estudiante elige lo que de verdad quieren decir.

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Mi hermana dice que el examen de matemáticas fue «pan comido». ¿Qué quiere decir?

This pass0 correct · 0 cued · 0 incorrect · 0/8

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How to run it

Read each sentence aloud in Spanish and ask first what the words say literally, then what the speaker means. Drawing the literal picture, a bicycle that cost an eye, makes the contrast memorable. After each item, ask the student to use the expression in a sentence about their own life. Families can often add more expressions from their own region.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

Step 1IndependentSet up the situation and wait for the student to respond on their own.Log as correct
Step 2Nonverbal cueUse a look, a gesture or a point to the visual cue card.Log as cued
Step 3Indirect promptAsk 'What could you say now?' or 'What might they be thinking?'Log as cued
Step 4ModelShow what to say or do, then run the moment again so the student can try it.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Read each item with clear tone of voice and point to the clue in the situation.

Harder

Read in a flat voice so only the situation helps, then ask the student to make up an example.

Matching IEP goal

Given a statement and its situation, Student will explain what the speaker means, including when it differs from the literal words, in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect prompt.

Send it home through the parent portal →

About this activity

Eight everyday Spanish expressions in a sentence: pan comido, estar en las nubes, costar un ojo de la cara, meter la pata, echar una mano, llover a cántaros, hablar hasta por los codos and ponerse las pilas. The student chooses what each one really means. These are expressions heard across Latin America and Spain, chosen because children meet them at home and on television before anyone explains them.

What to listen for

Notice whether the student picks the literal choice, which tells you they are reading word by word. Listen for whether they can use the expression themselves. Notice which expressions are new; a bilingual student may know an English idiom but not its Spanish counterpart, or the other way round, and both are useful to know.

Carrying it home

At home, families can share the expressions they use and talk about what they mean. Many families have favorites from their own country, and comparing them is fun and builds vocabulary. When an expression comes up on television or in conversation, pause and ask what it means.

What's in this activity

Mi hermana dice que el examen de matemáticas fue «pan comido». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que fue muy fácil
- Que comió pan en el examen
- Que fue muy largo
La maestra dice que Pablo «está en las nubes». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que está en un avión
- Que está distraído
- Que está en la montaña
Papá dice que la bicicleta «costó un ojo de la cara». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que se lastimó un ojo
- Que fue un regalo
- Que costó muchísimo dinero
Mi hermano «metió la pata» en la fiesta. ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que se equivocó o dijo algo que no debía
- Que pisó un charco
- Que bailó muy bien
Mi tía me pidió que le «echara una mano» con las bolsas. ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que le diera la mano para saludarla
- Que la ayudara
- Que le prestara un guante
Afuera «está lloviendo a cántaros». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que llueve un poquito
- Que alguien tira agua con cántaros
- Que llueve muchísimo
Mi primo «habla hasta por los codos». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que habla muchísimo
- Que habla con los brazos
- Que casi no habla
El entrenador nos dijo «¡Pónganse las pilas!». ¿Qué quiere decir?
- Que compremos pilas
- Que nos esforcemos y prestemos atención
- Que nos sentemos a descansar

Questions

Who is this for?: Spanish-speaking and bilingual students in grades 3 through 6 working on non-literal language (lenguaje no literal) and Spanish idioms.
Are these expressions used everywhere Spanish is spoken?: These eight are widely understood across Latin America and Spain. Families may use other expressions too, and adding a family's own expressions in the Activity Studio makes the board even more relevant.
Can I change the items?: Yes. Open it in the Activity Studio, edit or add items and keep the same board, or switch it to another template that fits the content.
Is it free?: Yes. It plays free in the browser with no login. An account adds session data, goal scoring and assignment to a student.

Use this board with your caseload

With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.

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