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Hispanic Heritage Month

Each year, during Hispanic Heritage Month, Floridians celebrate the important contributions made to our state’s unique heritage by Hispanics and Latin Americans. Hispanic Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity to educate Floridians, especially students, on the many contributions Hispanic and Latin Americans have made across the state and the impact of these influences on Florida.

About Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual national celebration (September 15 – October 15) that was proclaimed as the time America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. September 15th was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.

Many Hispanic figures have made countless contributions to our society and profoundly influenced American communities through avenues such as the arts, politics, and law. Each day, Hispanic culture continues to shape the American experience with a strong commitment to family, love of country, and respect for others. Over 30 million Americans claim Hispanic origin, one of the largest ethnic groups in the nation. The Hispanic population contributes to everyday American life while continuing to preserve the unique customs and traditions of their ancestors that are reflected in their art, music, food, and faiths.

Hispanic Heritage Month Contests for Students and Teachers

Governor Crist Invites Florida’s Students to Participate in Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest and Recognition of Hispanic Teachers

Governor Charlie Crist invites Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades to participate in the sixth annual Florida Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. The Governor also encourages students, parents, teachers and principals to nominate full-time educators in elementary, middle or high schools for the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. The contests are the first in a month-long schedule of events planned to commemorate Florida’s Hispanic heritage. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Honoring a Legacy, Shaping Florida’s Future.”

About the Essay Contest

The essay contest is open to all Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades. One winner will be selected from each of the three grade-level categories, elementary (grades K-5), middle (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12). Winners will receive a full four-year tuition scholarship to a Florida college or university of their choice, provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. Essays should answer the question: “In what ways does the foundation of Florida’s Hispanic legacy help to build the future of Florida’s innovation economy?”
Guidelines
Entries must be mailed to the Executive Office of the Governor: Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, Suite LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, postmarked by Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. (Download forms) (PDF, 31KB)
  • Each student may enter only one essay, no longer than 500 words and typed or handwritten in print, rather than cursive writing.
  • Essays must include the student's name, home address, telephone number, school the student attends, grade level and essay title.
  • Essay must be accompanied by a parental waiver form, which can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.

About the Excellence in Education Award

Governor Crist’s annual Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all Hispanic, full time educators in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. Three winners will be selected: one elementary (K-5) teacher, one middle school (6-8) teacher and one high school (9-12) teacher. Winners will receive a check for $1,500.
Guidelines
Nomination forms must be mailed to the Executive Office of the Governor: Excellence in Education Award Committee, 400 S. Monroe Street, LL-10, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, and postmarked by midnight of Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. Forms can be found at www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com. Nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent or student. (Download form) (PDF, 41KB)

Essay contest winners and award-winning teachers will be notified the week of October 6, 2008. Awards will be presented at the Governor’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Tallahassee in October.

Additional information about Florida’s Hispanic heritage, contests and other related events is available on the Web site www.FloridaHispanicHeritage.com.

Web Resources

Suggested Student Activities

Elementary School
  1. Mariachi music is a traditional musical form from Mexico. Discuss the instruments that are included in a mariachi band. Listen to a recording of a mariachi band and try to identify the instruments that you hear. Have you ever seen and heard a mariachi band in person? (Free Mariachi Music Online)
  2. Many people of Hispanic heritage have immigrated to the United States. Write a short story describing how life has changed for them as they become part of a new culture. Include three examples in your story.
  3. Create two columns, one with Hispanic holidays and the other with American holidays. Select several of the holidays and show the simi­larities and differences. (Hispanic Holidays Online Resource)
  4. Use a picture dictionary or children’s encyclopedia to get information about Latino customs and ways of life. Write a sentence or a paragraph about what you learned.
Middle School
  1. Explore the influence Hispanic culture has on your community. Are their special groups where you live that perform music, dance and/or theatre works that are primarily Hispanic? Does your community have any public art that shows a Hispanic influence? Choose one of these Hispanic cultural influences in your community and write a short paper about how their performances or art reflect Florida’s Hispanic heritage.
  2. Use an encyclopedia and web sources to research Mexico and the Mexican culture to discover its influence on art, literature, and music. Write a paragraph about this influence. Do the same with other Hispanic countries and cultures.
  3. Research two works of Hispanic art from two different artists. Compare and contrast the style, technique, and elements of artistic expression.
  4. Research the life of a Hispanic artist. How do you think that the economics, government, or lifestyle in their country of origin influenced their art?
  5. Explore the museums, art centers, or public art in your own community to determine if any of these places are examples of the Hispanic influence upon art in Florida. If there are examples of Hispanic public art, what local conditions in your community helped to make this possible?
  6. Assume the role of a thirteen year old student from Latin America entering school for the first time in the United States. Describe the journey to this country including problems encountered, reasons for their immigration, and their expectations upon arrival in America. What do you think is the hardest adjustment for someone for a Latin American country coming to school in Florida for the first time?
High School
  1. Choose some artwork which you think best reflects Florida’s Hispanic cultural heritage and explain in a paragraph why you feel this way.
  2. Describe life in the late 1800’s in Spain or a Latin American country. List the similarities and differences in the political, economic, social, and religious events of that era with those of the United States. How do you think these conditions influenced the artists on the poster?
  3. Identify ten Hispanic Americans who have made significant contributions to culture, literature, science, and government in Florida and create a timeline of their accomplishments. Research the life and contributions of one of the Americans chosen and describe the nature and motivation for their contributions to the United States.
  4. Using demographic graphs and charts, identify the major areas in Florida where there are concentrations of Hispanic populations. Research why people of Hispanic origin have chosen to congregate in those areas of Florida.
  5. Using historical data and primary resources, create a model of life in Spanish Florida, in the 1700’s. How have those early Spanish influences had an impact upon life in Florida today?