“Humanity is going through very painful moments caused by the pandemic, but we must remember that after the storm comes the calm. In this portrait, we can appreciate a hand that raises the flags of Hispanics together with people of different ethnicities looking towards a majestic rainbow that represents Hope. “Esperanza!”

“The 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope. It also encourages us to reflect on all the contributions Hispanics have made in the past and will continue to make in the future. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the contributions and importance of the Hispanics and Latinos to the United States and those American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The Hispanic Heritage observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

Resources for K-5

Lesson Plans

Tolerance: Comparing Cultural Holidays
Students in grades K-4 compare Halloween and El Día de los Muertos by looking at traditions, music, and visual art.

Let's Travel to Mexico!
Students in grades 1-2 learn about the language and literature of Mexico.

Journal of Time: A Historical Perspective (Esperanza Rising)
Students in grades 5-8 use photographs as inspiration to write journal entries from the point of view of someone living during the Great Depression in California.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins today.
Students in grades 5-12 work in groups to research and present projects on Hispanic culture through PowerPoint, a webpage, a display, or an interactive tool such as the flip book or stapleless book.

Additional Lesson Plans

Smithsonian Education - Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access compiles classroom resources from different Smithsonian museums that focus on Latino history and culture. K-12.

Hispanic Heritage Month
Lessons, activities, interactives, and resources for grades K-12.

Activities

Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to Life: A Collection of Resources( K-8)
Interactive timelines, scavenger hunts, and other learning fun all about Hispanic Americans.

A Month of Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage (3-8)
From Aztec math to Carnival masks, these ideas are easy to put together and offer students the chance to celebrate their own heritage while appreciating the uniqueness of others.

Fact Monster - Hispanic Heritage Month Activities
Crosswords, population statistics, and more.

Colorín Colorado - Hispanic Heritage Month
Information, puzzles, biographies for English language learners. In English and Spanish.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage with Recipes full of flavor (K-5)

Printables

Famous Hispanic Americans (K-5)
Coloring pages and hero cards for sports, science, politics, and the arts.

Background Resources

Day of the Dead - El Dia de los Muertos K-12 curriculum resources.

Library of Congress - Hispanic Heritage Month
Images, exhibits, audio, and video.

Smithsonian Latino Center Includes exhibitions, virtual museum, Virtual Museum Bilingual Teacher Training Took Kit, and more.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Selected resources for teachers.

Hispanic Heritage Booklists

Colorín Colorado’s children’s Hispanic Heritage booklists feature biography, history, cultural traditions, family stories, fun stories, and titles about growing up Latino.

Multimedia

MUSIC

• Mariachi Music Online
  Free downloads and brief artist biographies.
• Cuban Music

VIDEO

• History of Mexico
  Find 31 videos and 18 photo galleries.

Coco (2017) (1:45) Miguel, a 12-year-old frustrated musician, visits the land of the dead to get the blessing of a famous singer, his great-great-grandfather. This movie could be used as an introduction or culminating activity in an exploration of Dia de los Muertos and other aspects of Latino culture.

SEE MORE

Resources for 6-8

Lesson Plans

Journal of Time: A Historical Perspective (Esperanza Rising)
Students in grades 5-8 use photographs as inspiration to write journal entries from the point of view of someone living during the Great Depression in California.

Hispanic Heritage Month Begins Today
Students in grades 5-12 work in groups to research and present projects on Hispanic culture through PowerPoint, a webpage, a display, or an interactive tool such as the flip book or stapleless book.

Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays
Students in grades 6-8 investigate Mexico's religious and political history through its major holidays.

ADDITIONAL LESSON PLANS

Smithsonian Education - Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources
The Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access compiles classroom resources from different Smithsonian museums that focus on Latino history and culture. K-12.

Latino Americans Lesson Plans from PBS Media
Lesson plans for grades 6-12.

EDSITEment - National Hispanic Heritage Month
Four lessons for grades 6-12, plus recommended websites and background information.

Activities

Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to Life: A Collection of Resources (K-8)
Interactive timelines, scavenger hunts, and other learning fun all about Hispanic Americans.

A Month of Ideas for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage (3-8)
From Aztec math to Carnival masks, these ideas are easy to put together and offer students the chance to celebrate their own heritage while appreciating the uniqueness of others.

Fact Monster - Hispanic Heritage Month Activities
Crosswords, population statistics, and more.

Colorín Colorado - Hispanic Heritage Month
Information, puzzles, biographies for English language learners. In English and Spanish.

Background Resources

Articles Tagged as Latino American History

Library of Congress - Hispanic Heritage Month
Images, exhibits, audio, and video.

Smithsonian Latino Center Includes exhibitions, virtual museum, Virtual Museum Bilingual Teacher Training Took Kit, and more.

Multimedia

MUSIC

• Mariachi Music Online Free downloads and brief artist biographies.
• Cuban Music

VIDEO

• History of Mexico
  Find 31 videos and 18 photo galleries.
• Coco (2017) (1:45) Miguel, a 12-year-old frustrated musician, visits the land of the dead to get the blessing of a famous singer, his great-great-grandfather. This movie could be used as an introduction or culminating activity in an exploration of Dia de los Muertos and other aspects of Latino culture.

SEE MORE

Resources for 9-12

Lesson Plans