Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15th through October 15th. During this month we celebrate the history and contributions that Hispanics have made to our nation over the years. We also honor the cultural richness of Hispanics, who come from Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with these engaging resources and activities. There are ways to celebrate all month long. Read alouds, informative writing pieces and cooperative learning tasks.
Read Alouds and Music
Read to your students! There are so many amazing picture books that spark curiosity and celebrate the Hispanic culture. I am Cuban, so I love sharing Cuban folktales and stories that remind me of my grandparents. Here are a few of my favorites: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach, Me Llamo Celia Cruz, I Love Saturdays y Domingos, Maybe Something Beautiful and Islandborn.
This is also a great opportunity to introduce students to different types of music from Hispanic countries. Listen to salsa songs by Cuban singer Celia Cruz or ballads by Mariachis. I've created a Spotify playlist with some fun and happy songs you can share with your class.
Hispanic Heritage Activity Books
These Hispanic Heritage Activity Books are perfect for small group activities or early finishers. Students will read basic phrases in Spanish and color flags from different countries.
Students can work together on these activities and practice speaking in Spanish.
Informative Writing Pieces and Research
It's important to recognize the contributions Hispanics have made to our society. Have students participate in a research project to learn more about an important person in our history. Students can also use this opportunity to learn more about a culture, country, or traditions that are centered around Hispanic families. Each Hispanic culture is so different, so it would also be a great opportunity to jigsaw the information and put students into groups to share what they've learned about different countries and cultures.
Crafts and Games
One of my favorite memories of my Cuban grandmother was her folding hand fans. It's so easy to make too. Have students draw a picture on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper. Encourage students to draw pictures that are representative of Hispanic culture. Maybe it's a country's flag, colors from the flag, or a picture of the landscape of the country. Students can use watercolors, markers, or crayons to color their pictures. Once it is all dry, have students accordion fold their paper. Staple it at the end and you'll have your own folding hand fan.
Another fun activity to do with your students is play dominoes. This is such a fun game for a pair or group of students. Dominoes are a passion of Cubans!
Bulletin Board
Dedicate a space in your classroom that honors Hispanic Heritage Month. I used this cute and colorful border, along with these posters. I also made the border pop by using these paper fans as accents. You can keep it up for the entire Hispanic Heritage Month or for the whole school year. It's a great reminder about the culture that is all around us.
Students will be so excited to see their culture represented in their classrooms. A fun incentive during this month would be to hand out these bookmarks and pencils as prizes. You can also sport this festive shirt to start off Hispanic Heritage Month with your students.
