Teaching poems in Spanish can be one of the most beautiful parts of your literacy block, but it can also be one of the hardest.
If your students freeze up when they hear the word poetry, or if you’ve ever found yourself scrambling for a kid-friendly poem that’s actually in Spanish, you’re not alone. Many teachers want to include authentic Spanish-language poems in their lessons, but the planning time, vocabulary barriers, and lack of ready-to-use resources can make it feel overwhelming.
Here’s how to make poems in Spanish feel doable and meaningful, without creating everything from scratch.
A Ready-to-Go Poetry Mini Unit That Saves You Time
That’s exactly why I created my Poems in Spanish resource. It gives you a no-prep way to introduce your students to beautiful, authentic poetry in Spanish, while supporting their understanding and your teaching goals.
This poetry mini unit includes 8 carefully selected poems by Spanish-language authors like José Martí, Federico García Lorca, Amado Nervo, and José Rosas Moreno. Each poem comes with vocabulary support, comprehension questions, and an answer key, so you can spend more time teaching and less time prepping.
There are two versions included to help meet the needs of different classrooms. The Spanish-only version is ideal for bilingual and dual language teachers. The English support version includes vocabulary and questions in English, perfect for Spanish learners or World Language classrooms.
Whether you’re teaching heritage speakers or beginning Spanish learners, you’ll have resources that are accessible, rigorous, and easy to use.
You can grab the Slides version, PDF version, or the bundle with both formats in my TPT store.
What’s Included
You can choose from two formats depending on your classroom needs. The Google Slides version is great for digital instruction, class discussions, or projecting the poem for whole group work. The PDF handouts are perfect for independent work, centers, or adding to a poetry notebook.
Each version includes:
- The full poem in Spanish (not translated)
- A vocabulary section for key words
- Four comprehension questions
- An answer key
The poems are short enough to feel manageable but rich enough to spark deep thinking. The materials are not editable, so you won’t have to worry about formatting issues when you print or assign digitally.
How to Use Poems in Spanish in Your Classroom
This resource was designed with flexibility in mind. Whether you’re using it as a formal poetry unit or just sprinkling poems throughout the year, here are some easy ways to use it in your class.
Poem of the Week
Choose one poem each week to study together. Read it aloud, define the vocabulary as a class, and have students answer one or two questions each day in journals or discussion.
Literacy Centers
Print the PDF handouts and use them in a center rotation. Students can read the poem, annotate or illustrate it, define the vocabulary, and respond to the questions independently or with a partner.
Oral Language Practice
Use the Google Slides version to project the poem. Students can practice reading it aloud with fluency and expression. This is a great way to incorporate speaking skills into literacy time.
Sub Plans
Each poem is ready to print and go. Leave a handout with a poem and questions for a meaningful sub plan that still builds reading skills in Spanish.
Homework or Early Finishers
Send a poem home with students and ask them to bring their answers back the next day. Or keep a few copies ready for fast finishers who want something thoughtful and challenging.
Why These Poems Matter
These poems are not translations or filler text. They are real poems by real authors, chosen to reflect culture, identity, nature, and human emotion. Your students will not only develop reading skills, they will connect with the language in a meaningful way.
This resource gives you everything you need to teach poems in Spanish with confidence. It’s flexible, classroom-tested, and built to support both you and your students.
Ready to get started with Spanish poetry in your classroom?
You can check out the Slides version, PDF version, or the bundle with both formats in my TPT store.
Poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right tools, it can become one of the most rewarding parts of your Spanish literacy instruction.
