Hispanic Heritage Month Projects
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a monthlong celebration (from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15) gaining in popularity at schools across the country. Beginning as most students are returning to school after a long summer break, Hispanic Heritage Month offers a great opportunity to usher students into the excitement of the new school year with engaging projects and activities.
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Bulletin Board
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Assign students to do biographical reports on famous and influential Hispanic leaders, like musician Tito Puente, actress Jennifer Lopez, fashion designer Carolina Herrera, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, artist Pablo Picasso, or boxer Oscar de la Hoya, to name a few. Each student can create a short fact sheet to add to the bulletin board, along with a photograph to accompany it. Students can also highlight some of the major accomplishments from their reports in a class presentation.
Latin Food Day
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Dedicate a day or perhaps an entire week to celebrating the variety of culinary delights found in Latin countries all over the world. Each student can be assigned a country and bring in a typical dish or drink for the class to enjoy. Students can also write a short narrative on how the country's history and culture has influenced its food. Then the entire class can enjoy traditional Latin favorite dishes such as paella and desserts such as flan.
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Host a Reenactment Play or Pageant
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Students can choose a famous or influential Hispanic leader to portray in a school play or pageant. Ask students to write a brief script and develop a costume with the help of their parents. The play can be held for the student body during school hours, and again on an evening so that parents can enjoy the parade of Hispanic leaders as well.
Make Papier Mache Art Projects
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In many Hispanic cultures, clay bowls and pottery were created and made as an extension of artistic yearnings. Students can make and decorate maracas, papier mache bowls and piñatas as a class project. Teach students about famous Hispanic artists like Pablo Picasso, and show them classic Spanish and Latin American art and typical patterns and motifs that are derived from given cultures. Require them to use at least one in their painting and decoration for added authenticity. Their creations can be displayed in the classroom or somewhere where the entire school can see.
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References
- Photo Credit mexico image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
