Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Kids

How are you going to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with kids? Hispanic American Heritage Month runs from September 15-October 15. The Library of Congress and other institutions are hosting special exhibits, some virtual. Visit their websites:

Library of Congress

National Archives

Smithsonian

Hispanic Books and Librarians

As a librarian, I always start with the books. There are many beautiful picture books on Hispanic culture, as well as fiction and nonfiction for older readers. Most of us are familiar with the Caldecott and Newbery Awards, but have you heard of the Pura Belpré Award, named after the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library?

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

The Pura Belpré Award

Your students can have fun learning about celebrated Hispanic people or culture. Make it fun with game-like activities.

This BOOM Card deck focuses on people:

Buy HERE on Teachers pay Teachers

Or try this interactive PowerPoint slideshow that covers people as well as the arts, food, discoveries.

Buy HERE on Teachers pay Teachers

You can have students research Hispanic countries and culture. Kids love maps and flags. They can look them up in an atlas.

Hispanic Heritage Month Flag Fun

These task cards show flags of the world, with a clue about the country:

Hispanic Heritage Month Biography Research

If your school or library subscribes to the Pebble Go database, your students can research famous Hispanic Americans such as astronaut Danny Olivas or scientist Mario Molina or Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. This research packet provides an easy guideline:

The Arts During Hispanic Heritage Month

Students might like to learn about Hispanic artists and art forms or even create some, like this papel picado:

Here are some instructions:

Papel Picado

Or, make a piñata. That’s always fun. Here are some instructions:

Piñata

So, from history to literature to art to science, there are many ways to celebrate Hispanic heritage month with kids in your classroom or library. And, do it all year around, not just for one month! ¡Buena suerte!

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