Un viejo que leía novelas de amor Vocabulary Activity

Q: How long does the visual vocabulary board take?

Plan for 30 to 40 minutes for five words. You can also spread the work across the reading, with one card per chapter, and spend a final session putting the board together. The second option doubles as review before the novel test.

Q: How do I grade the visual vocabulary board?

Use three criteria per word: an accurate definition , an illustration that shows the meaning, and an original sentence that uses the word correctly. In AP Spanish, add a fourth criterion: the quote from the novel where the word appears, to confirm the student understands it in context.

Q: How do I adapt the activity for heritage speakers?

Many heritage speakers already know words like machete or canoa , but not cerbatana or tigrilla . Have them choose words that are new to them and add how each one is said in their country or region, if it's different. Also check the spelling in their definitions, especially accent marks.

Q: How do I use the vocabulary to open a discussion about the novel?

Choose words that lead to the big ideas: colono opens up the colonization of the Amazon, buscador de oro leads to the exploitation of the jungle, and lupa to reading as refuge. Ask: Which word best sums up the novel, and why? Each student defends their choice with a scene.

Un viejo que leía novelas de amor - Visual Vocabulary Example

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Lesson Plan Overview

Un viejo que leía novelas de amor is full of words about the jungle, Amazonian wildlife, and life in a settler village. Many of them are new to students, especially those learning Spanish or who speak it as a heritage language. In this activity, students create a visual vocabulary board: each cell has a word, its definition, and an illustration that shows its meaning.

You can provide a word list or have students choose words as they read. For AP Spanish, ask that each definition include an original sentence and the quote from the novel where the word appears. With heritage speakers, ask them to add how the word is said in their country or region, if a different word is used there.

Before You Begin

Suggested timing: during reading, one card per chapter, or as a review before the test.
Time needed: 30 to 40 minutes for five words.
Assessment: check that the definition is accurate, that the illustration shows the meaning, and that the sentence uses the word correctly.

Vocabulary from Un viejo que leía novelas de amor

tigrilla (female ocelot): the female of the tigrillo, or ocelot, a wild cat of the American tropics
cerbatana (blowgun): a long tube used to blow darts for hunting
colono (settler): a person who moves to new land to work it
buscador de oro (gold prospector): a person who searches rivers and jungles for gold
muelle (dock): a place on the riverbank where boats tie up
canoa (canoe): a small, narrow boat moved with paddles
malaria (malaria): a disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fevers
lupa (magnifying glass): a lens that makes things look bigger
escopeta (shotgun): a long-barreled firearm used for hunting
sucre (sucre): Ecuador's former currency
machete (machete): a large knife used to cut a path through the jungle
alcalde (mayor): the top authority in a town

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Show what you know about the vocabulary in Un viejo que leía novelas de amor by creating your own visual vocabulary board.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Choose five words from the novel and write them in the titles.
Write the definition of each word in the description.
Illustrate the meaning of each word with appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Write an original sentence using each word.
Save and submit your storyboard.

Un viejo que leía novelas de amor - Visual Vocabulary Template

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards

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Lesson Plan Overview

Before You Begin

Suggested timing: during reading, one card per chapter, or as a review before the test.
Time needed: 30 to 40 minutes for five words.
Assessment: check that the definition is accurate, that the illustration shows the meaning, and that the sentence uses the word correctly.

Vocabulary from Un viejo que leía novelas de amor

tigrilla (female ocelot): the female of the tigrillo, or ocelot, a wild cat of the American tropics
cerbatana (blowgun): a long tube used to blow darts for hunting
colono (settler): a person who moves to new land to work it
buscador de oro (gold prospector): a person who searches rivers and jungles for gold
muelle (dock): a place on the riverbank where boats tie up
canoa (canoe): a small, narrow boat moved with paddles
malaria (malaria): a disease spread by mosquitoes that causes fevers
lupa (magnifying glass): a lens that makes things look bigger
escopeta (shotgun): a long-barreled firearm used for hunting
sucre (sucre): Ecuador's former currency
machete (machete): a large knife used to cut a path through the jungle
alcalde (mayor): the top authority in a town

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Show what you know about the vocabulary in Un viejo que leía novelas de amor by creating your own visual vocabulary board.

Click "Use This Template" from the assignment.
Choose five words from the novel and write them in the titles.
Write the definition of each word in the description.
Illustrate the meaning of each word with appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Write an original sentence using each word.
Save and submit your storyboard.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-12

Difficulty Level 2 (Reinforcing / Developing)

Type of Assignment Individual

Type of Activity: Visual Vocabulary Boards

Copy Activity

How to Build a Visual Vocabulary Board for Un viejo que leía novelas de amor

Choose words to fit the group

For Spanish learners, hand out a set list of concrete, easy-to-illustrate words such as canoa, muelle, lupa, and machete. For AP Spanish or heritage speakers, have students choose their own words as they read.

Assign one card per chapter

If you use the board during the reading, ask for one word per chapter; by the end of the eight chapters, each student has enough for a five-word board plus a few extras. As a review, plan for 30 to 40 minutes for five words.

Ask for the quote from the novel

In addition to the definition and an original sentence, each cell includes the line from the novel where the word appears. Students see the vocabulary in context, and you can confirm they found it in the text.

Invite comparisons with regional variants

Have heritage speakers add how the word is said in their country or region, if it's different. For example, sucre was Ecuador's currency; ask what currency is used in their family's country. These comparisons enrich the class without turning into a correction.

Grade with three criteria

Check that the definition is accurate, that the illustration shows the meaning, and that the original sentence uses the word correctly. Close with a quick game: show only the illustrations from a few boards and have the class guess the word.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Vocabulary of Un viejo que leía novelas de amor

Which vocabulary words should I teach with Un viejo que leía novelas de amor?

Words from the jungle and from life in El Idilio work well: tigrilla, cerbatana, colono, buscador de oro, muelle, canoa, malaria, lupa, escopeta, machete, and alcalde. For Spanish learners, start with the most concrete ones; with advanced groups, add words students find on their own as they read.

How long does the visual vocabulary board take?

Plan for 30 to 40 minutes for five words. You can also spread the work across the reading, with one card per chapter, and spend a final session putting the board together. The second option doubles as review before the novel test.

How do I grade the visual vocabulary board?

Use three criteria per word: an accurate definition, an illustration that shows the meaning, and an original sentence that uses the word correctly. In AP Spanish, add a fourth criterion: the quote from the novel where the word appears, to confirm the student understands it in context.

How do I adapt the activity for heritage speakers?

Many heritage speakers already know words like machete or canoa, but not cerbatana or tigrilla. Have them choose words that are new to them and add how each one is said in their country or region, if it's different. Also check the spelling in their definitions, especially accent marks.

How do I use the vocabulary to open a discussion about the novel?

Choose words that lead to the big ideas: colono opens up the colonization of the Amazon, buscador de oro leads to the exploitation of the jungle, and lupa to reading as refuge. Ask: Which word best sums up the novel, and why? Each student defends their choice with a scene.