DOE Home

Just for Teachers

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.

Contests for Florida Students and Teachers

Hispanic Heritage Month Contests for Students and Teachers
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide and begins on September 15. In honor of this celebration, Gov. Charlie Crist is inviting all Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grades to take part in the Florida Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. 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, and a computer. Essays should answer the question: “In what way will you impact the future of the Hispanic community in Florida and why?”

The Governor is also encouraging students, parents, teachers and principals to nominate Hispanic, full-time educators in elementary, middle or high schools for the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award. Three winners will be selected: one elementary school (K-5) teacher, one middle school (6-8) teacher and one high school (9-12) teacher. Winners will receive a check for $1,500 and a $500 gift card for classroom supplies.

The contests are the first in a month-long schedule of events planned to commemorate Florida’s Hispanic heritage. For more information on both contests and to download contest entry and nomination forms, click here.

Web Resources

Hispanic Heritage Month booklet
The Department of Education has put together a special Hispanic Heritage Month publication for use by teachers, students, and parents. Just click on the files below to download.

• Hispanic Heritage Month booklet (PDF, )
• Hispanic Heritage Month booklet - Accessible Version (PDF, )

Gale Cengage Online Resources
Biographies of significant Hispanic individuals, Hispanic culture quiz, Timeline of events that helped shape the Hispanic culture, Hispanic holidays, musical genres and other topics.

Scholastic Hispanic Heritage Web Site
Student activities complete with interactive map with Florida-specific timeline, online teacher’s guide and research tools.

Education World HHM Resources
Lessons, activities, vocabulary, and more!

Hispanic Heritage Month Resources from FactMonster.com
Includes online quizzes, where Spanish is spoken, Hispanic holidays, famous firsts by Hispanic Americans and more.

Just Read, Florida! Recommended Hispanic Heritage Reading List

History of Mexico: The History Channel

History Channel Broadcast: Sept. 20, 6 AM

• Hispanics and the Medal of Honor
• Student Study Guide

Heritage Teaching Resources from Smithsonian Education
The Smithsonian observes the federally mandated Heritage Months and offers thematically arranged teaching resources from across the Smithsonian. The resources have been selected for their relevance to classroom curriculum and national education standards. This site contains resources for the following national celebrations: Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), American Indian Heritage Month (Nov.), Black History Month (Feb.), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May), and Women’s History Month (March). The site also contains a number of other educational resources for parents, teachers, and students correlated to state and national standards. You can even sign up for the “Smithsonian Education News” quarterly e-newsletter!

Suggested Student Activities

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.

1. Hispanics and the Medal of Honor (History Channel, Sept. 20, 6 AM)
   Geared toward grades 5-12, this program celebrates the lives of five Hispanic-American Medal of Honor recipients, who not only heroically served their country during WWII, the Korean War, and in Vietnam, but have also raised public awareness of the Latino tradition of service to country. Access the accompanying study guide!
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Research two works of Hispanic art from two different artists. Compare and contrast the style, technique, and elements of artistic expression.
5. 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?
6. 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?
7. 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?

1. Hispanics and the Medal of Honor (History Channel, Sept. 20, 6 AM)
   Geared toward grades 5-12, this program celebrates the lives of five Hispanic-American Medal of Honor recipients, who not only heroically served their country during WWII, the Korean War, and in Vietnam, but have also raised public awareness of the Latino tradition of service to country. Access the accompanying study guide!
2. Choose some artwork which you think best reflects Florida’s Hispanic cultural heritage and explain in a paragraph why you feel this way.
3. 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?
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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?