Hispanic Heritage Month is an important celebration that takes place every year from September 15 to October 15. It honors the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino people in the United States and around the world.
As Spanish teachers, this month offers us a special chance to help students learn about these rich cultures while also practicing Spanish in a fun and meaningful way.
We all agree that Hispanic Heritage Month is a must-do celebration for Spanish classes, but it always comes so early in the year when you are still gaining traction with your routines and students.
It’s especially challenging with novice students who still don’t have the language skills to do all the cool things you’d like. But don’t worry… I’ll share plenty of resources to keep students engaged all month!
I’ve organized for you the resources and activities that teachers have shared in our Facebook group. These ideas will help you plan your celebrations at any grade level, especially for students in middle school.
And you can also get started with our Hispanic Heritage Month freebies with resources from our Spanish Teachers Community.
The Importance of Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in the Spanish Classroom
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in a Spanish class is an opportunity to connect language learning with culture, history, music, food, and traditions.
When students learn about Hispanic cultures, they see that Spanish is a living language spoken by millions of people with unique and diverse identities. It also helps students appreciate the contributions of Hispanic people to society, including famous leaders, artists, athletes, and scientists.
Most importantly, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month helps students from all backgrounds feel seen and proud of their own identities. Hispanic students get to celebrate their families’ heritage, and non-Hispanic students learn respect and curiosity about different cultures.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Beyond Stereotypes
But before we jump into activities and resources, I would like you to reflect on something very important.
Hispanics are not a homogeneous group. There are people from many different countries, with unique traditions, incredible stories, and important contributions to society. Not all are Mexican, not all eat spicy food, and definitely not all are the same.
So, when we think about Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s not just about eating tacos or dancing salsa. It’s about understanding and respecting the incredible diversity of Hispanic culture. As a teacher, you can help your school celebrate this month in a meaningful and authentic way.
I really recommend watching Diego Ojeda’s webinar. He explains how we can go beyond just surface-level celebrations and build a deeper understanding.
🎶 Music and Songs to Inspire During Hispanic Heritage Month
Music is a powerful way to connect students with culture and language. Several teachers recommended Spanish songs that teach vocabulary and celebrate Hispanic culture in fun ways.
- Ryan N. suggested playing songs in the background during class or lessons to immerse students in music. He shared his Spanish Class Playlist with “clean” lyrics on Spotify.
- Mace also shared her class-appropriate Spotify playlist with more than 5 hours of music specially for Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Rhythims from the Spanish-speaking World: Joss share her activity involves using famous songs/rhythms from different Spanish-speaking countries as cloze exercises (fill-in-the-blank activities). She created a unit on musical instruments and started each class by playing a well-known song from a particular Spanish or Latin music genre. For example, for flamenco, they played a song by the Gipsy Kings; for mariachi, “Cielito Lindo”; for salsa, a child-appropriate song by the Salsa Kids. She also included genres like joropo, cueca, and merengue. To close the class, they either taught some dance steps or did a meditation session with Andean music.
- Music Brackets: Creating a music bracket where students vote for their favorite Hispanic songs can be a fun, democratic way to explore modern and traditional music. The top choice for doing this is with the ones created for Locura de Marzo and Lococtubre by Sr. Ashby and the #musicamiercoles Hispanic Heritage Month music bracket by Mis Clases Locas.
- Authentic Music with Practice Activities: Other teachers mentioned using real songs with practice activities from places like Zambombazo and the free version Roxxem. These websites have songs that are good for students and come with worksheets and fun exercises that help you understand the language and culture better. Roxxem even lets teachers pick songs that are okay for kids by showing ratings like PG. This makes it easy to find songs that are safe and fun.
- Other Song Suggestions: Dúo Karma and Canticuénticos YouTube channels was a discovery made by María R. and they are worth exploring.
Dúo Karma offers original, culturally rich songs from Cuba that integrate storytelling, rhythm, and movement, making it a valuable resource for exposing students to authentic Spanish-language music and themes.
Canticuénticos presents engaging, folkloric-inspired songs from Argentina that combine traditional rhythms with educational narratives, providing teachers with authentic, child-friendly materials to enrich Spanish language learning.
And to close the music theme, many teachers shared their top song options and compiled them in this YouTube playlist.
Classroom Activities and Projects for Hispanic Heritage Month
Music is only one aspect of the variety of activities proposed. Teachers suggested many more creative projects!
- Gallery walks: Students create slides or posters about Hispanic athletes, musicians, scientists, or historical figures, allowing others to walk through and learn about key contributors to Hispanic culture and society. This promotes research skills and peer teaching.
For ideas on what notable Hispanic figures to highlight, check our Hispanic Heritage Month Class Guide with suggested biography presentations for each level. - Chalk Quotes: Megan C. shared a popular outdoor activity where students write quotes from famous Hispanics on sidewalks around the school. This public art project celebrates heritage visibly and integrates literacy with community engagement
- Guest Speakers: Guest speakers from Hispanic backgrounds (wheather in person or online) are also a great idea to create real-world connections and provide students with firsthand experiences.
- Parades: Some schools also organize parades where students proudly wear traditional heritage clothing and carry flags to celebrate independence days from Hispanic countries.
- Readings: Teachers have also organized readings of important literature such as “Cajas de Cartón,” supplemented with discussions about figures like César Chávez and his activism, enriching students’ historical knowledge and social awareness.
- Live Wax Museum: A live wax museum activity where students dress as famous Hispanics and present their stories is another engaging project noted for its interactive and theatrical nature.
- Cooking: Cooking can be incorporated through lessons on making traditional Hispanic foods like arepas, paired with cultural dances such as salsa, merengue, and bachata, which appeal to kinesthetic learners.
- The Pulsera Project: Lisa G. recommend it for its dual role of educating students about Latin culture while promoting social good by supporting artisans.
- Lotería: Soledad G. and Kevan K. have been doing this traditional Mexican bingo-style game in their classroom. For Hispanic Heritage Month Lotería cards, include culturally significant images such as traditional foods (e.g., tamales, empanadas), famous landmarks (e.g., Machu Picchu, Chichén Itzá), iconic figures (e.g., Frida Kahlo, César Chávez), popular musical instruments (e.g., guitar, andean flautas), and symbols (e.g., flags, piñata, traditional clothing). You can also feature Spanish vocabulary words related to Hispanic culture, festivals (e.g., Día de los Muertos, La tomatina), and animals native to Spanish-speaking countries.
- Movies: Films like Selena and A Million Miles Away are suggested as accessible and meaningful options to show before fall break or during the month. For more movie ideas for the Spanish classroom, check out this Facebook thread.
Activities to Highlight Prominent Hispanic Figures During Hispanic Heritage Month
Use materials that teach about how Hispanic people have helped not just in the United States but all around the world to help students understand that Hispanic culture is lively and connected internationally. Exploring figures from science, arts, sports, and activism encourages students to see cultural heritage in contexts beyond stereotypes.
For ideas on what notable Hispanic figures to highlight, check our Hispanic Heritage Month Class Guide with suggested biography presentations for each level.
- Oral Presentations in Groups: Assign students to work in groups on sub-topics under an umbrella theme related to Hispanics in the USA, allowing them to explore figures of interest and present their findings orally to the class.
- Morning Announcements: Have students read facts about Hispanic Heritage Month and share information about famous Hispanic individuals during school announcements, helping to spread awareness school-wide.
- Poster Projects: Students can create posters about famous Hispanic figures using pre-printed layouts or original designs. These can be displayed in hallways or classrooms.
- Slide Presentations & Gallery Walks: Students research a well-known Hispanic athlete, singer, scientist, or other categories, create slides, and participate in a gallery walk where they share and discuss their findings.
- Daily Bell Ringers: Start each school day with a brief activity investigating a famous Hispanic person, followed by answering related questions, which helps build steady engagement and learning throughout the month.
- Movies: Show movies or use YouTube videos to teach about Hispanic cultural influence and prominent figures. Here are some examples:
- Selena — A biographical film about Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, a famous Tejano singer.
- McFarland USA — Based on a true story about a predominantly Latino high school cross country team and their coach.
- The Perfect Game — Tells the story of a group of Mexican boys who become the first team from Mexico to win the Little League World Series.
- Motorcycle Diaries — A film about the early travels of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the Argentine Marxist revolutionary.
- The 33 — About the 2010 Chilean mining disaster and the rescue of 33 miners.
- A Million Miles Away — The true story of a young Mexican-American baseball player trying to make it into Major League Baseball.
- La Bamba — Focuses on the life of Ritchie Valens, a pioneering Hispanic rock and roll musician.
- Stand and Deliver — Based on Jaime Escalante, a notable math teacher in East Los Angeles who inspired students to succeed.
- Selena — A biographical film about Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, a famous Tejano singer.
- Chalk the Walk: Have students write quotes from famous Hispanics on sidewalks to publicly celebrate their words and legacies.
