Inside: Celebrate Hispanic culture in your classroom with engaging Hispanic Heritage Month Activities. Inspire your students with influential figures and traditions.
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The start of the school year brought a familiar energy to my classroom. We were all finally getting into a groove and I was starting to spend more time on teaching content and less time on redirecting and reminding. However, a new challenge appeared with the arrival of Hispanic Heritage Month. I wanted to share this vibrant culture with my first graders, but the resources I was finding online seemed too advanced.
Especially for brand-new first graders. (Let’s be real- they’re still like kindergartners at the beginning of the year).
Finally, an idea hit me. If I couldn’t find it, I’d create it.
I wanted to give my students a chance to dive into the vibrant Hispanic culture – the colorful traditions, influential figures, music, dance, and yes, the food!
Introducing diverse cultures in the classroom is not just a great experience for the students. As teachers, we also get to learn and grow. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from September 15th to October 15th, is a fantastic opportunity to explore and celebrate Hispanic culture. In this blog post, I’ll share some engaging, age-appropriate Hispanic Heritage Month activities to help you bring this celebration to life in your classroom.
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Hispanic Heritage Month Activities to Inspire
Teaching about different cultures is like sharing different parts of the world with our students. Every new culture is like a new chapter in a book, full of unique characters and stories that help them see things from a fresh perspective. It’s not just about memorizing facts or data – it’s about helping them understand and respect how diverse our world is.
Starting this journey early is important. It’s how we show our kids that ‘different’ doesn’t mean ‘wrong’ or ‘weird’; it just means ‘not the same’, and that’s a pretty cool thing. It helps them become more understanding, more respectful, and more open to new things.
Plus, let’s be real, learning about different cultures is interesting and fun!
Now, let’s get to the fun part. Here are some engaging Hispanic Heritage Month activities you can do to celebrate in your classroom.
Activity 1: Learning About Influential Hispanic Figures
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about influential Hispanic figures who have made significant contributions to society. This can be done through an engaging and educational research project.
Not sure how to get started? I’ve got you!
How to Launch a Research Project with Your Students
Step 1: Make a List of Influential Hispanic Figures
Begin by creating a list of influential Hispanic figures for your students to choose from. Be sure to include individuals from a variety of fields such as science, politics, arts, sports, and more. Ensure the list is diverse and represents various Hispanic cultures.
Resources such as Google and ChatGPT can help you find some great individuals to look into!
Step 2: Provide Time to Research and Collect Information
Once your students have chosen their influential figure, provide them with guiding questions to help them conduct their research. These questions can include:
- What is this person’s background (where are they from, when were they born, etc)?
- What is this person known for?
- What challenges did this person face and how did they overcome them?
- How has this person influenced or contributed to society?
Provide your students with resources to use to do their research, such as books and websites. Support them as needed as they look up information about their individuals! (Another option is to send the project home as a family activity!)
Step 3: Writing an Informative Piece
After conducting their research, have your students write an informative piece about their chosen figure. This is an excellent opportunity to incorporate informative writing skills. For guidance on how to teach informative writing and research, check out this blog post: How to Teach Informative Writing and Research.
Step 4: Presentation and Celebration
Once the informative pieces are complete, have students present their work to the class. This not only gives students a platform to share what they’ve learned but also exposes the whole class to a wide array of influential Hispanic figures! Students are always excited to share what they’ve researched with the rest of the class.
Step 5: Display on a Bulletin Board or in the Classroom
Finally, display all completed reports in a dedicated space in your classroom. This creates a visually engaging learning resource that celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.
To make this process even easier, check out my Informative Writing Research Project Bundle from the Teachers Pay Teachers store. This bundle, which includes Hispanic Heritage Month reports, provides you with all the materials you need for this project, saving you time and ensuring a structured, engaging research experience for your students.
This project not only educates students about important Hispanic figures but also enhances their research and informative writing skills. It’s a win-win!
If you want to try it out first, check out my Research Report Pennants Free Sample!
Activity 2: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Diverse Books
Another one of my favorite Hispanic Heritage Month activities is to share books with Hispanic characters or themes with my students. Sharing these books during story time not only gives students a glimpse into Hispanic culture but also helps build their reading and comprehension skills. For bonus points, I like to introduce some Spanish vocabulary using bilingual books. (If you do this, please make sure you check the correct pronunciation on Google!)
You can buy books, request donations from parents of students with a “Book Wish List”, set up a Donor’s Choose campaign, or borrow books from the library.
Great Books with Hispanic Characters and/or Themes:
- Abuela by Arthur Dorros
- Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto
- Mango, Abuela, and Me by Meg Medina
- The Day of the Dead/ El Dia De Los Muertos by Bob Barner
- My Name Is Celia/Me Llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz by Monica Brown
- Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
- Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong
- La Princesa and the Pea by Susan Middleton Elya
- Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales
- Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
- Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle
- The Bossy Gallito Lucía M. González
You can easily find all of these books and more in my Amazon store. Use these books to create a vibrant display in your reading center for Hispanic Heritage Month. Then, keep these books available to your students in your class library throughout the year!
Activity 3: Share Traditional Hispanic Music and Dance
Hispanic culture is filled with vibrant music and dance, from the lively beats of salsa to the passionate rhythms of flamenco. Bring some of that energy into your classroom!
Another one of my fun Hispanic Heritage Month activities is to share some traditional Hispanic songs with your students. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, teach them a simple dance! It’s a fun, active way to immerse your students in Hispanic culture and let them burn off some energy!
See if you can borrow a set of shakers or sticks from the music teacher in your school so they kids can participate as they listen to these fun songs!
Songs:
- “De Colores“
- “Cielito Lindo“
- “La Bamba“
- “El Coqui“
- “Los Pollitos Dicen“
- “La Mariposa“
Dances:
- “La Raspa” (Mexican Hat Dance)
- “La Cumbia” (Colombia)
- “El Merengue” (Dominican Republic)
- “La Salsa” (Cuba and Puerto Rico)
- “El Flamenco” (Spain)
- KIDZ BOP En Español Dance Party
Activity 4: Host a Hispanic Food Festival
This activity works well if you have a large population of Hispanic students in your classroom. Organize a mini food festival in your classroom. Let your students bring in bite-sized versions of Hispanic dishes they made at home. You’ll be amazed at the variety of flavors and how food can open up conversations about culture, tradition, and heritage.
Just be sure to check for food allergies!
A Few Ideas for Yummy Hispanic Dishes
- Mexico: Tacos, Enchiladas, Tamales
- Spain: Paella, Tapas, Tortilla Española
- Cuba: Ropa Vieja, Cuban Sandwich, Moros y Cristianos
- Puerto Rico: Mofongo, Arroz con Gandules, Pastelón
- Argentina: Empanadas, Asado, Choripán
- Peru: Ceviche, Lomo Saltado, Pollo a la Brasa
- Dominican Republic: Mangu, Sancocho, Pastel en Hoja
- Colombia: Bandeja Paisa, Arepas, Empanadas
- El Salvador: Pupusas, Tamales, Yuca Frita
- Venezuela: Arepas, Pabellón Criollo, Tequeños
If you don’t have any Hispanic students in your class but would still like to give your students a chance to try a dish, consider making one yourself or finding a local restaurant that offers authentic dishes.
Incorporating Hispanic Heritage Month Activities into Your Curriculum
These activities aren’t just fun add-ons; they can be seamlessly woven into your existing curriculum. They’re opportunities to enhance learning, foster cultural appreciation, and bring some extra excitement to your lessons.
After each activity, engage your students in a discussion. Ask them to share what they learned, how they felt, and what they found most interesting. It’s a great way to reinforce learning and encourage reflection.
Completing Hispanic Heritage Month activities in the classroom is about much more than just having fun. It’s about fostering an environment of respect, understanding, and appreciation for diverse cultures. It’s about teaching our students to value diversity and learn from it.
So, put on some salsa music, bring out the empanadas, and let’s celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month together!
Before you go, don’t forget to check out my Informative Writing Research Project Bundle. It’s a great resource to kickstart your Hispanic Heritage Month activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the classroom?
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to explore and celebrate Hispanic culture. It broadens students’ perspectives, fosters respect for diversity, and instills empathy, all while adding an extra layer of excitement to the learning process.
What are some age-appropriate Hispanic Heritage Month activities?
Activities can include learning about influential Hispanic figures, reading books with Hispanic characters or themes, exploring traditional Hispanic music and dance, and organizing a Hispanic food festival in the classroom.
How does learning about influential Hispanic figures benefit students?
This activity provides students with the opportunity to learn about influential Hispanic figures who have made significant contributions to society. It enhances their research and informative writing skills and exposes them to a wide array of influential Hispanic figures.
Can these Hispanic Heritage Month activities be adapted for other grade levels?
Yes, these activities can be adapted for other grade levels by modifying the complexity of the tasks to suit the age and capabilities of the students.
Can parents contribute to these Hispanic Heritage Month activities?
Yes, parents can contribute by helping their children with their research, cooking traditional Hispanic dishes with them, and encouraging them to share what they’ve learned about Hispanic culture.
