Welcome to Hispanic Heritage Month! It’s time to celebrate Hispanic culture and recognize its contributions across the United States. From September 15 to October 15 each year, there are festivals, art exhibits, lectures, concerts, parades, and more, spotlighting Hispanic culture.
Why does National Hispanic Heritage Month start on September 15? After a weeklong celebration started in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson, Hispanic Heritage Month was extended to an entire month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. Why does National Hispanic Heritage Month start on September 15? That is an important date because it is the anniversary of independence of Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16, and Chile celebrates on September 18.
Viva la Cultura! Celebrating Hispanic Heritage
The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2024 is Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together. This theme opens up a wide variety of opportunities to honor the contributions and impact of Hispanic Americans throughout the history of the United States while building classroom community. The Hispanic population accounts for 19% of all people in the United States. That’s one in five Americans, according to the 2020 Census, so recognizing and celebrating Hispanic culture is important.
From September 15 through October 15, teachers across the country share lessons and activities as they celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month for kids in classrooms from kindergarten through high school. There are ideas for every age and content area, so find the perfect ones for your students and weave them into your lesson plans.
8 Exciting Hispanic Heritage Month Activities and Ideas for Kids
Take a look at these ways to bring Hispanic Heritage Month activities to your students.
- Create a Hispanic Heritage Month bulletin board with the help of your students. Have them research key Hispanic figures in STEM and display their work.
- Read aloud and discuss literature that explores Hispanic authors and Hispanic Heritage Month ideas.
- Take a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino.
- Plan a fiesta that includes foods with traditional ingredients and spices to taste, such as cumin, paprika, chile peppers, and Chimichurri sauce.
- Introduce your class to artists such as Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. Let them experiment with these different styles of artistic expression. Investigate some current artists as well.
- Speaking of artists, let your students virtually explore the home of Frida Kahlo.
- Listen to a mariachi band and discuss the instrumentation.
- Play a new game! Teach your students how to play traditional Hispanic games, such as Lotería, El repollo, and Mar y tierra.
Wrapping up National Hispanic Heritage Month with Pride and Unity
There’s no reason to stop with just a month-long celebration. Recognizing the contributions of Hispanic culture throughout the year broadens the students' worldview and provides a chance to understand others better. Teach them how to be respectful of traditions. Look for opportunities to share Hispanic and Latino Americans' rich history and current culture. Talk with your students about their experiences and backgrounds. You’ll find that Hispanic culture and contributions are everywhere.
Explore interactive Gizmos inspired by Hispanic figures in STEM.