TeachersFirst Collection: Hispanic Americans' Contribution to American Culture
This collection celebrates the rich and enduring contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American culture. From literature and art to music and cuisine, Hispanic Americans have helped shape the nation's identity, weaving vibrant traditions and inventive perspectives into it. Through historical narratives, educational materials, and multimedia content, this compilation highlights the diverse voices and experiences that have shaped everything from the civil rights movement to contemporary pop culture. In exploring these resources, we honor the past while recognizing the ongoing impact of Hispanic Americans in building a more inclusive, dynamic society.
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Reading Treks: The Distance Between Us - TeachersFirst
Grades
5 to 9tag(s): hispanic (53), identity (48), immigrants (50), mexico (67), Reading Treks (56)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many suggested classroom uses for this resource found on the Instructional Guide (PDF). After reading this book and completing the activities found in the Reading Trek, ask students to document their identity using a tool like Odyssey, reviewed here. Use Odyssey to create a map-based story that includes images, text, videos, and photos. Find more ideas for teaching identity at this Discover My Identity Lesson Plan, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Reading Treks: Esperanza Rising - TeachersFirst
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): 1920s (26), 1930s (39), great depression (33), hispanic (53), immigrants (50), racism (84), Reading Treks (56)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many suggested classroom uses for this resource found on the Instructional Guide (PDF). This book and the suggested activities work well as part of lessons on racism and living conditions in the 1920s and 1930s on Mexican farms. Consider using the historical information and primary sources from the book to have students create timelines of the important events during the story. Find a variety of free online timeline creation tools located here. Use Google My Maps, reviewed here to create and share custom maps. As students conduct research related to life on Mexican farms during the 1920s and 1930s, use Fiskkit, reviewed here as a collaborative discussion tool. Use Fiskkit to share the link of any online article with students, then the site's tools provide the opportunity to highlight and add comments to areas within the article by users.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Kid World Citizen - Becky Morales
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): back to school (57), chinese new year (5), christmas (35), cross cultural understanding (167), earth day (62), hanukkah (22), hispanic (53), holidays (292), italy (30), Juneteenth (33), mexico (67), native americans (169), ramadan (10), thanksgiving (24)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use throughout the year when teaching about countries, holidays, and for cross-cultural literature resources. Choose a country to explore each month using resources found on the site. Learn about your students' backgrounds to find countries and regions to explore using activities on the site. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast your culture with that of a different country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zinn Education Project - Zinn Education Project
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (130), bias (35), black history (133), civics (138), civil rights (228), hispanic (53), racism (84), social justice (44), women (194)
In the Classroom
If you are looking for additional teaching materials that focus on issues of social justice, racism, or which provide information from a progressive point of view, you can search by time period or theme (i.e., African American, Mexico, Hispanic, Latinx, LGBT, War and Anti-War, Civil Rights, Racism, and many more). The teaching materials are in PDF format you can download once you log in. Language arts teachers will find the articles here great for nonfiction reading and terrific as discussion starters!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Daria -World Music for Children - World Music by Daria
Grades
K to 5This site includes advertising.
tag(s): hispanic (53), martin luther king (42), musical instruments (63), native americans (169), songs (50), sound (71)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google My Maps, reviewed here to visit the different places that the music originated from. Students can use Online Voice Recorder, reviewed here to record themselves singing the songs. Finally, students can use 2 and 3 Circle Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here to compare and contrast music from different cultures.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Cinco de Mayo Resources - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Use these resources to connect Cinco de Mayo to your curriculum in almost any subject or select one or two ideas to highlight along with your regular lessons.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vistas - Dr. Dana Leibsohn and Dr. Barbara Mundy
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (167), cultures (302), explorers (65), hispanic (53), resources (79), spanish (113)
In the Classroom
You could share this site with your students on your interactive whiteboard or projector and at the same time create a timeline for the Spanish Americas using a tool such as Timeline Infographic Template, reviewed here. What a wonderful resource for higher-level students during Hispanic Heritage Month!The site lists several themes, and each theme starts with a video under five minutes. You might want to assign small groups to a theme and have them explore the site to learn what it's about (be sure to review the titles in the Library with them). Enhance learning by having the small groups use a tool such as MindMeister, reviewed here, to create and share concept maps of the important ideas about their theme. They may also want to use images from the site, so remind your students to cite their sources and credit the people who created the site when they create a project online.
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Cinco de Mayo - The History Channel
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): cinco de mayo (28), hispanic (53), mexico (67)
In the Classroom
Share maps of Mexico on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups create commercials highlighting what they have learned (be sure they include some new vocabulary words) or even a video advertisement modifying their learning for your class's Cinco de Mayo celebration. For the video use a tool such as Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here. Share the videos using a tool such as Schooltube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Salsa - Georgia Public Broadcasting
Grades
K to 12tag(s): hispanic (53), preK (352), resources (79), spanish (113)
In the Classroom
Use these episodes to supplement regular Spanish language classes or as enrichment for elementary classes wishing to learn a language. Encourage your Spanish-speaking class members to assist with pronunciation, episode summaries, songs, etc. Provide this link on your class website for students to use both in and out of the classroom; the activities and stories help with Spanish language comprehension. After introducing your students to this program you may want to set up stations with different stories from this list for students to rotate through. Share the stories on your interactive whiteboard or projector as a model for world language students, then extend student learning by challenging students to create their own stories. Use a tool like FlexClip, reviewed here, to record them and share them. FlexClip is designed to allow you to create short animated or explainer videos to share on YouTube and other social media sites. Then, share on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lessons from Teaching with Historic Places - National Park Service
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): african american (130), american revolution (99), archeology (26), civics (138), civil rights (228), civil war (148), hispanic (53), immigration (86), lincoln (65), migration (44), native americans (169), politics (119), spanish (113), war of 1812 (14), women (194), world war 1 (88), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
This is a great resource for ANY history teacher! Save this site as a favorite on your classroom desktop and use it as a reference point when in need of new material.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hispanic Historic Places - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): hispanic (53), national parks (30), resources (79), spanish (113)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans listed for Hispanic American/Latino American History here from the NPS Teaching with Historic Places series. This is a great resource for a history or geography classroom, just be sure to save it as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on. You might want to use a curation tool such as Wakelet, reviewed here to share with this site with your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Free Learning Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month - Common Sense
Grades
K to 12tag(s): central america (25), cross cultural understanding (167), cultures (302), dance (42), hispanic (53), south america (77)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a Hispanic historical figure or cultural tradition and create a short video or digital story. They can use a free tool like Canva, reviewed here to combine images, text, and narration. Ask students to create a playlist of traditional and contemporary Hispanic music, ranging from salsa to reggaeton. Have students explore poems, artwork, or literature by Hispanic authors and artists. They can create artistic interpretations or write poems inspired by Hispanic culture, traditions, or history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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