Setting up the Activity in your Classroom:

The components of Celebrate Hispanic Heritage are broken up into three categories: Culture (Grades K–2), People (Grades 3–5) and History (Grades 6–8). Therefore, depending on the grade level and maturity level of each class, activities can be facilitated as independent work, collaborative group work, or whole class instruction.

You may also want to create a special display for your classroom library in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Check out our Recommended Booklist for suggested print materials.

If a computer is available for each student, guide students to the activities either through printed URLs on handouts or on the board.

If you are working in a lab, set up the computers to be on the desired Web site as students walk into class. If there are fewer computers than students, group the students by reading level. Assign each student a role: a “driver” who navigates the web, a timer who keeps the group on task, and a note taker. If there are more than three students per computer, you can add roles like a team leader, a team reporter, etc.

If you are working in a learning station in your classroom, break out your class into different groups. Have rotating groups working on the computer (s), reading printed background information, holding smaller group discussions, writing first drafts of their journals or specimen box offline, etc. Details described further in the Teaching sections.

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Stimulate Background Knowledge with these related links:

Enchanted Learning: The Spanish Language
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/themes/spanish.shtml
Enchanted Learning has an online Spanish-English dictionary, color-matching quiz, and coloring book reproducibles.

Famous Hispanics
http://coloquio.com/famosos/
Famous Hispanics — from the early Roman Empire to those in contemporary society — are the focus. The biographies are text only, and are also available in Spanish.

World Book: Hispanic Americans
http://www2.worldbook.com/features/cinco/html/hispanic.htm
Provides an overview of Hispanic History in the Americas, including the cultural background, influence on culture and politics, and famous Hispanic pioneers. An online quiz is also included.

Library of Congress, Hispanic Reading Room
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/
Visit this Library of Congress site to find rich resources about Hispanic history and culture. You can find exhibits, photos, and biographies of Hispanic Americans elected to Congress, and other materials.

Multicultural Literature
http://www.scholastic.com/smartparenting/experts/learning/ 9_12_multicultlit.htm
Find out which books for children are culturally appealing and have sensitive illustrations from reading expert, Francie Alexander.

Barahona Center: Recommended Books in English and Spanish about Latinos
http://www.csusm.edu/cgi-bin/portal/ www.book_eng.book_home?lang=SP
Search by grade and/or topic for recommended books in English and Spanish for children and adolescents.

LANIC: Latin American Resources
http://www.lanic.utexas.edu/la/region/k-12/
A large compilation of links to deepen understanding of Hispanic heritage. Organizations

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Graphic Organizer:

Biography Skill Sheet: Grades 1–8
This biography skill sheet helps students organize information on an important Hispanic American. Students can write about a particular Latino or Latina's accomplishments and contributions to the Hispanic Heritage. The lesson culminates with a biography report on a Latino or Latina of the students' choice. See Assessment and Evaluation.

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