This school year, I decided to bring the excitement of March Madness into my elementary Spanish classes but with a twist! Instead of popular songs like other world language teachers use, our bracket features traditional games from Latin America. I call it Batalla de Juegos, a fun and culturally rich experience designed to engage young learners.
Because I work with elementary students, I’ve carefully selected games that are appropriate for their age and skill level. Most of the games featured are recommended for second grade and up, ensuring that the activities are both developmentally suitable and enjoyable for my students.
Many kids are already familiar with the concept of a bracket thanks to the basketball games played in March. So I thought: why not tap into that excitement and turn it into a Spanish language and culture celebration?
But instead of songs only, this year I wanted to highlight the traditional games I grew up playing—the same games many kids still play today in Latin America. I introduced games like:
- Palo bonito
- Agua de limones
- Tingo tango
- Juguemos en el bosque
- Mariposa
- Chocolate
- Toma tomate
- Sapo sapito
Some of these are already familiar to my students because we’ve played them during class. For each round, I introduce or revisit two games with the class. We watch a short video, learn the chant or lyrics, and of course play them together! After the fun, it’s time to vote.
Here’s how the voting works (and it’s a favorite part for the kids): after playing both games, I ask students to stand up and form a line. When I count to three and ring a bell, they move to the side of the room that represents their favorite game. The excitement, movement, and visual aspect of voting this way keeps things fun and interactive. See example below!
To avoid overwhelming the schedule and the students, I only do two games per day. That pace keeps things light and enjoyable while still building anticipation for what’s next on the bracket.
The best part? You can use any games or songs you love or that connect with your students. The format is flexible. You can adapt it to different age groups, regions, or classroom themes. The goal is simple: celebrate language and culture in a joyful, interactive way.
This March Madness inspired bracket has brought so much joy and energy into our classroom. My students are not only practicing Spanish but also connecting with traditions that have brought generations of kids joy across Latin America, including me!
At the end our bracket looks like this:
I hope you get some motivation and create your own Batalla de juegos. It’s a great adaptation for elementary levels!
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