Lotería Classroom Lesson Plan

A simple, flexible lesson that blends Spanish vocabulary practice with cultural context—using Lotería as the activity.

This plan works well for Spanish class, bilingual classrooms, or cultural studies. You can run it in 30–60 minutes depending on how many rounds you play. For rules and caller pacing, also see the Caller Guide (Cantor).

Lesson overview

  • Age/level: adaptable (upper elementary → adult)
  • Time: 30–60 minutes
  • Skills: vocabulary, listening, speaking (optional), cultural awareness
  • Materials: printed tablas (or device screens), markers, optional prize tickets/stickers

1) Warm-up (5–10 minutes)

Start with a quick prompt: “What games do you play with your family?” Then introduce Lotería as a traditional community and family game. If time allows, show a few cards and ask students to predict what each one represents.

Optional mini-activity

Pick 5 cards from the All Cards page and have students write a one-sentence description of each card in English or Spanish.

2) Key vocabulary (10 minutes)

Teach these terms before playing. Keep it light—students will learn more as they play rounds.

  • La tabla = the board
  • La carta = the card
  • El cantor / la persona que canta = the caller
  • Las fichas = markers/tokens
  • ¡Lotería! = “Bingo!” (win call)
  • La ronda = the round

Classroom-friendly language rule (recommended)

Choose one: (A) caller says the card name in Spanish only, or (B) caller says Spanish then English. Either way, students should point to the card and repeat the Spanish name once before marking.

3) How to run the game (10–25 minutes)

  1. Pick a winning pattern (corners or single line work best in class).
  2. Explain verification: markers stay until the win is confirmed.
  3. Start slow for the first 10 calls, then speed up slightly.
  4. Keep a called pile/list so wins can be checked quickly.
  5. Run 2–4 rounds depending on time.

Tip: to keep students engaged, rotate the caller role for later rounds (with a quick practice first).

4) Quick worksheet prompt (5–10 minutes)

After the game, use a short reflection to turn the activity into “classwork” (helpful for lesson documentation). Students can answer on paper or in a shared doc.

1) Write 5 card names you remember (in Spanish).

2) Choose 1 card and describe it in a full sentence.

3) What did you learn about Mexican culture or traditions from the game?

4) What strategy helped you listen and mark your tabla faster?

5) Variations (keep it fresh)

  • Theme rounds: pick a theme (animals, people, objects) and call only those first.
  • Describe-before-name: caller gives a simple clue, then says the card name.
  • Silent round: caller holds up the card name only (no speaking) for listening-lite practice.
  • Creative writing: students write a short story using 5 cards they marked.
Generate Classroom Tablas Winning Patterns How to Play