15 Spanish Cognates Practice Activities for Spanish Class
- Laura Lee
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
Updated: May 9
Looking for the perfect way to ease first-day jitters in Spanish 1? Start Day one in Spanish class with confidence by teaching cognates! Teaching Spanish-English cognates is my favorite way to build confidence—and it works year-round, too!
What are Spanish cognates?
Cognates are words that look and sound similar in both languages (like animal, chocolate, or inteligente). Show students that they already know 100+ Spanish words on day one! It's a game changer. It instantly shifts their mindset from “This is going to be hard” to “I can do this!”
Whether you're doing a Spanish cognates word search, playing a cognate bingo game, or creating silly sentences with familiar words, these easy, no-prep activities make learning FUN. Plus, they’re a great way to start speaking in the target language without overwhelming beginners.
15 Spanish Cognates Practice Activities
—perfect for the first week of Spanish class and to add to lesson plans all year!
Click the links below to find Spanish cognates practice activities your students will love.
Spanish Cognates Word Search - find 100 cognates
Spanish Cognates Word Wall - post 117 easy cognates on your bulletin board
Spanish Cognates Lesson - Google Slides version - must-have lesson for day 1
I Spy - search for 32 cognates from A - Z
Best part? You can use cognates all year to boost vocabulary and confidence, support all learners, and promote a positive mindset. It’s low-stress for you and super engaging for them.
So if you’re planning your first week of Spanish—or looking for an engaging lesson mid-year—don’t forget the power of cognates. You and your students will be smiling on day one!
Let’s make Spanish class a place where students are excited to learn.
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