Spanish Question Game: El Repollo

This Spanish question game can be adapted for all levels and topics.

When I am working in Latin America, I keep my eyes open for authentic games I can use in my classroom. A group of students in Nicaragua recently introduced me to a Spanish question game called El Repollo.

Be sure to check our complete collection of traditional Spanish games for kids.  You’ll find our favorite games for language learners, with everything from playground games to board games.

Repollo is cabbage, and to play the game you make a paper ball, a cabbage, with questions on each of the “leaves.” If you use the Spanish word col for cabbage, you can change the name of this Spanish question game to La Col.

I love the game El Repollo because it can be adapted to any topic or level. With preschoolers, you can use pictures instead of writing questions. With older students, you can make questions relate to a story or any content they are learning. This game is active, hands-on and fun. It’s a perfect combination of play and content.

If you are looking for more authentic games, Basta is another game I play with my students. Try these printable versions of Basta for Spanish learners. You can find a set of traditional games that require less language here, and 12 traditional games with more Spanish language content here.

How to Play the Spanish Question Game

To play this Spanish question game, students pass el repollo around a circle, similar to Hot Potato. First, you make el repollo from pieces of paper with a question on each one. See the specific instructions below.

Then, tap on a desk as students pass the ball around the circle. Tap with a pencil or coin to make a sharper, louder sound. When you stop tapping, the student holding the ball peels the outer “leaf” off the cabbage and answers the question on that piece of paper.

Next, start tapping again. Again, the ball moves around the circle until you stop. Play continues this way until you reach the last question at the center of the cabbage. Tap louder and faster to encourage students to pass the ball faster. Of course, you can use music too, pausing it for students to answer.

This Spanish question game can be adapted to any level or topic.

Making El Repollo

Making the cabbage students pass around the circle is easy. Tear off a small piece of paper, a quarter or half sheet, and write a question on it. Use this as the question as the center of the cabbage. Remember, this will be the last question students answer. So, if the order of the questions matters, you may want to write all the questions on the “leaves” and then assemble the ball.

Crush the paper with the first question into a small ball. Next, put a piece of paper with another question around that ball and press it together. Keep adding “leaves” with questions, molding and shaping el repollo as you go. Use larger pieces of paper as the ball gets bigger.

The questions in this repollo were based on the story El río dormido.

This Spanish question game involves passing around a paper ball with questions.

This paper ball is passed around the circle in this Spanish question game.

These pages are part of a Spanish question game students play in Nicaragua.

Types of Questions for El Repollo

You can use any type of questions on the leaves of the cabbage. For example,

  • Use information questions related to a topic or a story.
  • Students can define a vocabulary word, or give an antonym or synonym.
  • Ask students to act out answers by writing “Imita…” and mentioning something from a story or a vocabulary word.
  • Write digits on the leaves for practice saying numbers.
  • Use clock faces to practice saying time.
  • Write personal questions for students to answer about their families, experiences and preferences.
  • Practice reading, letter sounds and pronunciation by having students read a word and identify how many syllables it has. Use familiar vocabulary for this kind of question.
  • Tell a short, easy story, sentence by sentence.
  • To practice verb conjugation, write sentences leaving the verb in the infinitive. Students conjugate the verb. Relate the sentences to tell a short story.
  •  Students contribute questions related to the content they are learning.

Adapting the Spanish Question Game for Pre-Readers

You can adapt this Spanish question game for pre-readers by using pictures. To do this, print the paper with clip art or use stickers.

This printable board game to practice greetings also uses images. So does the active game using this free power point for practicing gustar.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Use pictures of familiar words related to a theme such as animals, shapes or food for students to identify.
  • Focus on counting and hay by putting several pictures on each leaf. Ask ¿Cuántos hay?
  • Practice emotions by identifying and acting out the emotion represented by a emoticon. Ask ¿Cómo se siente?
  • Use colored dot stickers to practice colors and numbers.

Here is a repollo for practicing numbers, animals and the verb form hay. When students peel off the leave they count the animals and say, for example, “Hay cinco caballos.”

You can adapt this Spanish question game to play with pre-readers by using pictures.

I’m sure you will think of other ways to incorporate El Repollo into your class. If you are using written questions, this Spanish question game is quick and easy to make. It is low-prep even if you print the leaves with clip art or use stickers. Best of all, it can be adapted to any content. Please let us in the comments know how you use this game in your class or with your family.

Easy Day of the Dead Crafts for Spanish Class
Monarch Butterfly Activities in Spanish

9 Comments

  • Sarah Shainfeld

    Oct 24, 2017

    Is there a winner? Do ss get “out” if they don’t answer a question correctly? Just trying to equate to my understanding of hot potato – thanks this looks like a lot of fun for many age groups!

  • Jenny

    Oct 24, 2017

    You can adapt the game to fit your group and needs. There isn’t a winner when I play. We are working together to answer all the questions. If someone answers a question incorrectly, others have the chance, but no one is out. Of course, my students are young, and you could certainly have students be out if it worked for you.

  • Debbie Annett

    Oct 25, 2017

    This looks great! It would be fun with older students to have them make their own Repollo balls and then play in small groups on their own.

  • Jenny

    Oct 26, 2017

    Great idea! I think the game can be used in many ways. It’s so simple and useful!

  • Palmira

    Nov 5, 2017

    Jenny debería ser la col. Una idea excelente como de costumbre

  • Jenny

    Nov 5, 2017

    Gracias! Lo cambio ahora. 🙂

  • Neelam

    Nov 9, 2017

    This game looks very good !!! In this way students will have fun and will learn. I will use this game as I have younger students. Thank you for sharing

  • Christine Luplow

    Nov 14, 2017

    I like all of the ideas. I’m having trouble printing out the printables.

  • Jenny

    Nov 16, 2017

    Hi,
    This post doesn’t have printables, so I’m not sure which one you are having problems with. Be sure you have Adobe Reader installed (or Preview, if you have a Mac) and feel free to use the contact form to reach me about any specific printable.