Task Cards in the World Language Classroom

Task cards are quickly becoming a new buzz word in Education.  If you've been to a conference lately odds are you've probably heard the term.  Task cards are a great way to break up the monotony of a typical class period.  They are also a phenomenal tool to help with differentiating instruction:  provide struggling students with lower level tasks while those who have grasped the concept can work on tasks that are more complicated.  How can these task cards be incorporated into the World Language classroom?  Keep reading to see 5 ways task cards can be used in action:

1.  Independent Work- Have your students work individually by distributing a set of task cards and a student answer sheet.  Students work quietly at their desks to complete the questions provided.  The teacher can check the questions with the answer key upon completion.

2.  Homework- Copy and laminate several sets of the task cards for multiple semesters of use.  Distribute several cards for students and have them answer them in their notebooks for homework.  This can be an ongoing homework assignment by shuffling the cards and redistributing them over a period of several days.

3.  Cooperative Learning Activity- Assign students to groups of 3-4.  Distribute one student answer sheet and a bag of task cards.  Students work together to complete the questions.  Add some competition to reward the first three groups who finish first.

4.  Scavenger Hunt- Tape the task cards around the room and have students work their way through the questions by moving around.  Be sure to provide them with a student answer sheet so that they can keep track of their responses and so that it is easier for the teacher to grade.

5.  Scoot- Tape task cards to desks around the room.  Set a timer for 30 seconds.  Students move from desk to desk when the buzzer sounds to answer the questions on the task cards and record them on their student answer sheets.

Task Card Round Up

Here are some ready made task card sets to try out in your classroom!

Italian

  





  Task Cards in Italian   

French        

Word Problems in French 

Quelle heure est-il?

Cartes d'Activités L'Aire

La Famille

Spanish

Main Idea Task Cards

Spanish Speaking Task Cards

Geography Task Cards

Spanish Subject Pronouns and Ser Task Cards

How do you use task cards in your classroom?

WL Resources 4/23

It's Wednesday. That means its time for another posting of awesome foreign language resources. Today we feature Spanish and Italian.

Spanish Culture: Cinco de Mayo - What Would Benito Juarez Do?
Are you sick of your students asking to have a party for Cinco de Mayo when they have no idea what they would be celebrating? In this interactive lesson, students take on the role of Benito Juarez as he makes critical decisions in history that lead to the Battle commemorated by Cinco de Mayo in this "Choose Your Own Adventure" inspired Power Point Presentation.

Fiesta de San Fermin Activities

Need a fun end of year activity or sub plan? What’s up with the Running of the Bulls? Students find out through a reading, trivia game, mini-poster and more.

Spanish Spring Conversation or Task Cards
Get students writing and speaking about the season! Included in this set are 30 questions on cards. All questions start with the phrase "En la primavera..."
EX: En la primavera...¿Cuáles deportes pueden practicar los estudiantes?"
These cards can be used as either writing or speaking activities. They are very versatile and can be used as warm-ups, stations, or class games.


Spanish Mothers Day Book-Feliz dia de la madre libro
 This is a 5 page book that students will make for their mothers in Spanish. Activities include writing an ode poem, chores gift page, all about my mother, and photo frame with poem. When students have the book complete they decorate it and bring it home to mom as a special gift. 

Newspaper reading & comprehension activities - example in Italian

Newspaper response for LOTE students
• 19 pages of activities with sample news articles in Italian
• Please note: news articles are sourced from the Internet as an example text. Students can use color coded version or blank and white version to color code themselves.

Spanish Speaking Country Research Project

Groups will research a Hispanic country in South or Central America. The student project includes a presentation board, map, travel brochure, and flag. Rubric is detailed but this file is a Word file so the buyer can EDIT any part of the project or rubric to their satisfaction.

Students must research their information and cite sources. This project is great for middle school or high school Spanish classes looking to teach about the countries and culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Can be used for another other country project as well (social studies, geography classes, other language classes)