Here is a Spanish game that needs no cutting, no laminating and barely any explaining, because your students already know how to play. Simón dice is simply Simon says, and it is a brilliant, high-energy way to teach Spanish body parts through movement. Best of all, the free printable body poster you need to teach the words is ready to download below.

Free printable: Spanish body parts poster

A bright, labelled El Cuerpo poster showing ten body parts in Spanish and English. Print it, put it up, and play. No login needed.

Download the free poster (PDF) →

The body parts you'll need

The game runs on these ten body parts. Teach them with the poster first so every student has a fair chance.

SpanishEnglish
la cabezahead
los ojoseyes
la nariznose
la bocamouth
las orejasears
los brazosarms
las manoshands
la barrigatummy
las piernaslegs
los piesfeet

How to play "Simón dice" (Simon says)

Your class almost certainly knows the English version, so the rules take seconds. The twist is that everything happens in Spanish, which turns a familiar game into real language practice.

1
Put the free poster up on the board and run through the words together, pointing to each part as you say it. A minute or two of “point and repeat” is all it takes before you play.
2
Students only follow a command if it begins with Simón dice (Simon says). If you call a command without those words and a student moves, they are gently out for that round.
3
Give instructions like Simón dice: tócate la cabeza (Simon says: touch your head) or tócate la nariz. Mix in commands without the magic words to catch them out, and speed up as they get confident.
4
Students who move on a no-Simón command sit down. The last student standing wins and can become the next caller. Reset and play again, they always want another round.
Teacher tip: keep the commands to tócate... (touch your...) at first. Once students are confident, add señala... (point to...) and mueve... (move your...) to widen the language without adding any prep.

Three ways to keep it fresh

A
Student caller: let the winner be Simón for the next round. Speaking the commands is even better practice than following them.
B
Speed round: call faster and faster. The pace makes students listen hard for those two magic words, which is exactly the skill you want.
C
Two parts at once: Simón dice: tócate la cabeza y la barriga. Combining parts stretches memory and keeps older students challenged.

Why this game works

Movement is one of the most powerful ways to lock in vocabulary, which is why total physical response games like this one work so well in primary classrooms. Students hear each word many times, connect it to an action, and stay fully engaged because nobody wants to be caught out. It builds listening, comprehension and confidence, all with zero preparation once the poster is printed.

If your class loves it, keep the Spanish going with our guide to Spanish culture in the classroom, our beginner's guide to teaching Spanish, or the answers to common Spanish teaching questions.

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