¡Hola profes! How are you doing? I hope your school year has been going well so far!
Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15) is almost here! Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect opportunity to highlight the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States and across the Spanish-speaking world. For us Spanish teachers, it’s also a chance to connect language learning with meaningful cultural exploration.
If you’re not sure where to start this year or if you’re looking for some new activity ideas, I’ve got you covered! Here’s a mix of ready-to-use resources and creative activity ideas you can bring into your classroom this year.
#1: Decorate and Inspire with Hispanic Heritage Month Posters
Set the tone for your classroom with vibrant visuals! Hispanic Heritage Month posters featuring influential Hispanic and Latino individuals from across the globe can turn your bulletin board or classroom wall into a learning showcase. Students see names and faces daily of activists, authors, athletes, artists, and more, which can spark curiosity and meaningful class discussions.
Extension idea: Assign each student one figure from the posters and have them do a mini-research project, presenting a fun “Did you know…?” fact to the class.
Don’t have time to make your own bulletin board set? No problem, I have one for you! Check out this Hispanic Heritage Month poster set featuring 53 famous and influential Hispanic and Latino individuals! Print the posters and go, or edit the text to suit your classroom needs! Spanish and English sets are included!
#2: Make Learning Interactive with Hispanic Heritage Month Bingo
Games are a surefire way to engage students, and a Hispanic Heritage Month bingo game brings history and culture alive. Make bingo boards with the names of famous Hispanic and Latino individuals. Read short clues featuring information about the lives and achievements of these individuals. Students will match the descriptions to the names on their boards! This is a great way to teach your students about influential figures across a wide variety of fields (activism, politics, sports, literature, music, art, film, and more) in a relaxed, student-friendly format.
Extension idea: After each round, ask students to share one new fact about a figure they recognized or learned about.
Looking for a ready-to-print Hispanic Heritage Month bingo set? I’ve got you! This set comes in three formats (pictures only, pictures with names, and names only) and features 53 different individuals! Includes the clues to read to your students (in both English and Spanish)!
#3: Spark Competition with a Hispanic Heritage Month Jeopardy Game
Nothing gets students more engaged than a little friendly competition! A Hispanic Heritage Month Jeopardy game has students read short descriptions and look at images of famous Hispanic and Latino figures to identify who’s being described. This activity is perfect for review or as a culminating celebration after students have learned about several influential people.
Extension idea: Let students create their own Jeopardy-style questions based on Hispanic and Latino figures they’ve researched.
Check out this ready-to-play Hispanic Heritage Month Jeopardy game that is compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides!
#4: Get Students Moving with a Hispanic Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt
If your students are like mine and love interactive activities, this one is a huge hit! A Hispanic Heritage Month scavenger hunt reading activity uses 10 short reading cards with information about the lives and achievements of different Hispanic individuals. The catch? The answers to each question are on different cards! Students move around the room, read, and interact as they uncover the answers, making it a fun and interactive activity that your students are sure to love!
Extension idea: Use the readings as the basis for a follow-up writing or speaking activity where students summarize or present about one figure they found especially interesting.
Check out this engaging, ready-to-print scavenger hunt reading activity here!
#5: Have Students Complete a Hispanic Heritage Biography Project
Assign each student (or pair of students) a famous Hispanic or Latino figure to research in Spanish or English, depending on their proficiency levels. You can have students present their findings in a variety of ways! Here are some ideas:
- A one-page mini biography
- A short PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation
- A short video presentation
Once complete, compile all student work into a “Class Hispanic Heritage Month Hall of Fame” that can be shared with parents and the school community!
Here is a ready-to-use Hispanic Heritage Month research project that you can complete with your students! Print and go or edit the directions and rubric to suit your classroom needs!
#6: Bring Music, Film, and Art into the Classroom
Hispanic Heritage Month is also a great time to highlight culture through the arts:
- Music: Play songs by artists like Celia Cruz, Juanes, or Rosalía and have students discuss lyrics or rhythm.
- Film: Show short clips from films or documentaries that highlight Hispanic cultures. There are so many great videos on YouTube, in both Spanish and English!
- Art: Introduce students to painters like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, or Fernando Botero, then have them create their own art piece inspired by the style.
Here are some activities that you can complete with your students to help them learn about art and music:
#7: Encourage Personal Connections
Ask students to reflect on their own lives and communities:
- Do they know of any Hispanic or Latino figures in their town or state who have made an impact?
- Which influential figure they’ve learned about inspires them the most and why?
These reflections can be used as journal prompts, speaking activities, or even class discussions!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Spanish class allows us to go beyond teaching vocabulary and grammar. It provides us with the incredible opportunity to connect students with stories of resilience, creativity, and leadership. Whether you decorate your classroom with posters, energize your students with bingo and Jeopardy, or get them moving with scavenger hunts, the goal is the same: to help students see the importance of Hispanic and Latino contributions while practicing Spanish in meaningful ways.
Ready-to-use resources like posters, bingo, Jeopardy, and scavenger hunts can save you prep time and ensure students are learning through engaging, interactive activities. Pair those with your own creative touches, and you’ll have a memorable celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in your classroom!
Señora Q 