About this activity
Twelve Spanish tasks moving from breath to volume control: acuéstate con un libro en la barriga y míralo subir; respira contando hasta 4 y suelta contando hasta 6; di aaa lo más largo que puedas; voz de biblioteca, voz de salón, voz de patio; ¿con cuál de las tres se te cansa la voz?; acércate a la persona en vez de subir el volumen. Breath first, then the three volumes, then the substitution.
How to use it in a session
Do the three voices in order and ask the comparison question afterwards. Naming which of the three tires the voice is the moment the student connects effort with volume, and it comes from them rather than from you. The acércate card is the practical outcome — moving closer instead of raising the voice is a substitution a child can actually use at break time. Twelve minutes covers the sequence.
What to listen for
Watch the shoulders on the breathing cards. Rising shoulders mean the breath is high in the chest, which is the pattern the exercises are meant to change, and no amount of volume work will help until it does. Listen for the voz de patio being produced with throat squeeze rather than breath support — the card says sin apretar la garganta for a reason. None of these exercises explains a voice. A student hoarse for more than about four weeks should be examined by a physician, ideally an ENT, before breath and volume work is the plan.
Carrying it home
The book-on-the-belly exercise takes two minutes at bedtime and needs no supervision. Asking the family to make it part of settling down, rather than a separate task, is what makes it happen.
Questions
- Is this board in Spanish?
- Yes, all twelve tasks are Spanish. This page is in English so an English-speaking clinician can find and evaluate it.
- Do I need an account?
- No, it plays free in the browser.
- What grades is it for?
- Second through fifth, for Spanish-speaking students working on breath support and vocal loudness.