From September 15th through October 15th, the United States celebrates the history, heritage, and contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Americans. This month-long celebration was officially declared Hispanic Heritage Month in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush. This month coincides with the dates Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, and Belize gained their independence. 

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to teach students about Hispanic and Latinx culture. Below are some ideas on ways you and your students can celebrate. 

1. Celebrate with a Fiesta: Set up stations around the classroom with dishes and candies from different countries and let students “travel” to each station to try the cuisine. While students are tasting different food, they can listen to Spanish music. For added fun, stuff a pinata full of Mexican candy!   

2. Teach Spanish: Did you know that Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the United States? Teach your students a handful of vocabulary with these free activity pages from the “Uh, Oh, Amigo!” Spanish for Kids activity book. 

3. Read Hispanic and Latinx Biographies: Designate a Hispanic or Latinx American to each student to research and have them present their research to the class. Gallopade’s biographies are a great resource for students to use!

4. Explore an Art Exhibit: The Smithsonian American Art Museum is presenting a free virtual art exhibit, “Latino Art and Culture.” This exhibit is 40-60 minutes long, and it is a great resource for grades 4-12. 

5. Decorate a Tile: Students can color this free tile and then write a significant cultural or historic fact surrounding the tile. These tiles can be displayed on the bulletin board to create a colorful mosaic. 

Explore the Gallopade Hispanic Heritage Collection for even more resources celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.