Display the Presentation: Retrieval race. Read each clue aloud and ask the children to discuss in pairs what word or phrase the clue refers to.
Learning objective
- To use a bilingual dictionary to look up the meaning of new verbs.
Success criteria
- I can tell the difference between nouns and verbs in Spanish.
- I can identify the correct form of a verb to use when looking for translations in a dictionary.
- I can use context to make sure I select the correct translation.
National curriculum
Languages
Pupils should be taught to:
- Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
- Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.
Cross-curricular links
None.
Before the lesson
Watch
Watch
Check all images, videos, links and presentation slides are suitable for your class.
- Presentation: Retrieval race.
- Presentation: Looking up verbs in a dictionary.
- Presentation: Spanish verbs.
- Bilingual Spanish-English dictionaries (one between two).
- The Teacher note: Translations – Spanish celebrations.
- The children’s completed Activity: Fiesta vocabulary match or Activity: Fiesta vocabulary match: support version from Lesson 1: Fiesta time! (support – see Adaptive teaching).
Prepare this lesson in presentation mode
Choose what to show your class.
Print in advance of the lesson.
Activity: Looking up verbs in a dictionary (one each).
Subject knowledge
Infinitive verb form
The infinitive is the basic form of a verb, before it changes to show who is doing the action. In English, infinitives usually begin with ‘to’, for example ‘to eat’ or ‘to play’.
In Spanish, infinitives usually end in -ar, -er or -ir. Recognising this supports learning because it:
- Lays the groundwork for later verb conjugation.
- Supports vocabulary learning and dictionary use.
- Helps children spot patterns in the language.
This knowledge helps children begin to build simple sentences and communicate meaning clearly in Spanish.
Lesson plan
1: Recap and recall
Presentation: Retrieval race
Take feedback, then click on each tile to reveal the answers.
2: Attention grabber
Display the Presentation: Looking up verbs in a dictionary. Ask the children to describe the action shown in the picture. Explain that the children are playing so the word to look up is play. Remind the class to use the English-to-Spanish section of the dictionary.
Presentation: Looking up verbs in a dictionary
Click the eye icon to reveal the dictionary entry.
Ask:
- For this image, would the noun or the verb section od the dictionary be used? (The verb.)
- Whic verb matches the action shown? (Jugar.)
- How is jugar translated in the dictionary? (To play.)
Explain that dictionaries list verbs in the infinitive form, also known as the ‘to’ form.
3: Main event
Display slide 1 of the Presentation: Spanish verbs and hand out the Activity: Looking up verbs (one each).
Ask the children to work in pairs and say which action each picture shows. Take brief feedback, discussing any different ideas.
Explain that the focus verbs are: dance, sing, eat, run, draw, listen, play, throw, receive, go out, play the guitar and watch.
Ask the children to look up each verb in a bilingual dictionary and write it under the matching picture. Encourage them to notice any patterns in the verbs as they work.
Presentation: Spanish verbs
Take feedback. Reveal the answers one by one. Say each verb aloud or play the audio and ask the children to repeat.
Display slide 2. Ask the children to group the verbs and identify what they notice. Draw out that Spanish infinitives end in -ar, -er or -ir. Explain that -ar verbs are the most common and invite volunteers to suggest any additional -er or -ir verbs they know (see Adaptive teaching for details.)
4: Wrapping up
Mime and say
As a class, agree on a gesture for each verb.
Mime one verb and ask the children to respond by saying the verb in Spanish.
Repeat with a few different verbs.
Ask the children to repeat the activity in pairs, taking turns to mime and respond.
5: During the week
Activities
- Play the ‘Mime and say’ game (see Wrapping up) again, pairing the children with a new partner.
- Play the spelling game ‘Mouse and cheese’ using the infinitive verbs from this lesson. This can be played as a whole class or in pairs.
-
- draw a staircase with a piece of cheese at the top and a mouse at the bottom;
- one player thinks of a verb while the other guesses letters;
- on each incorrect guess, move the mouse up one step. Correctly guessed letters are written in place;
- the aim is to guess the verb before the mouse reaches the cheese. Adjust the number of steps to vary the challenge.
Extended-mode explainer videos
How to extend your display to view the lesson page and presentation mode simultaneously. Choose your operating system below to watch the video
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please contact [email protected].
Extended-mode explainer video: For Mac
Extended-mode explainer video: For Windows
Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support:
- Could use their completed Activity: Fiesta vocabulary match or Activity: Fiesta vocabulary match: support version from Lesson 1: Fiesta time! during the Recap and recall.
- Should create actions to help practise and recall the verbs from the Main event.
Pupils working at greater depth:
- Should independently identify the three different types of infinitive verbs in Spanish.
- Could use the Spanish-English dictionary to identify more examples of Spanish verbs ending in -er or -ir.
Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding can:
- Identify verbs in their infinitive form.
- Differentiate between nouns and verbs and using context to ensure they select the correct translation.
Pupils working at greater depth can:
- Identify that infinitive verbs in Spanish all end in -ar, -er or -ir.
- Explore a bilingual dictionary to identify additional verb examples.
Vocabulary
-
bailar
to dance
-
cantar
to sing
-
comer
to eat
-
correr
to run
-
dibujar
to draw
-
escuchar
to listen
-
jugar
to play (a game)
-
lanzar
to throw
-
recibir
to recieve
-
salir
to go out
-
tocar
to play (a musical instrument)
-
ver
to watch
In this unit
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 6th February, 2026
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