Hispanic Heritage Month
The annual holiday is observed from September 15 - October 15, to celebrate the culture and achievements of Hispanic people.
Description & History
The annual holiday is observed from September 15 - October 15, to celebrate the culture and achievements of Hispanic people. It began in 1968 as a weeklong observance under President Lyndon Johnson. It was later expanded to a month-long holiday by Ronald Reagan and set into law on August 17, 1988. September 15th has historical significance as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all gained their independence on September 15th. Mexico and Chile celebrate theirs on September 16th and September 18th. Finally, Dia de la Raza is celebrated on October 12th.
Professional Learning Resources
Smithsonian Education: Hispanic Heritage
The Smithsonian offers a variety of teaching resources, including lesson plans, videos, & virtual exhibits, focused on Hispanic culture and history. Lesson plans, digital content, and activities are all drawn from the Smithsonian’s extensive collections.
PBS LearningMedia: Hispanic Heritage Month
PBS provides a collection of videos, and educational resources to help teachers introduce students to the contributions of Hispanic Americans. This diverse range of content spans food, music, sports, history, and the arts.
National Education Association: Hispanic Heritage Month
NEA offers lesson plans, activities, and classroom resources focused on celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Additionally, NEA provides materials that can be printed as well as an extensive list of background resources.
Library of Congress: Hispanic Heritage Month
The Library of Congress offers a comprehensive collection of resources, including primary source documents, exhibits, and teaching materials related to Hispanic heritage.
The National Museum of the American Latino
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino’s website includes educational resources, virtual exhibitions, and digital collections that focus on the contributions of Latino Americans.
TeacherVision: Hispanic Heritage Month
TeacherVision provides a variety of resources, including printables, lesson plans, and activities designed to help teachers celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the classroom.
Hispanic Heritage Foundation: Educational Resources
This foundation provides educational resources and initiatives that focus on Hispanic culture and history, including scholarship programs and leadership training.
Learner Engagement Resources
PBS Kids: Hispanic Heritage Month
PBS Kids features games, videos, and activities that celebrate Hispanic culture. Students can explore content related to Hispanic Heritage Month through shows like "Molly of Denali" and "Alma's Way."
Colorín Colorado: Hispanic Heritage Month Crossword Puzzle
This is a crossword puzzle that can be used for 9-12th grade students to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Epic! Digital Library (Epic! Hispanic Heritage Month Collection)
Epic! offers a digital library with a special collection of books celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Students can read eBooks, watch videos, and complete quizzes. This resource may require a free subscription.
40 Crafts for Hispanic Heritage Month
This is a great combination of simple and more complex activities for students of all ages to help students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Many of the crafts are heavily Mexican/Mexican American, but there are a few other crafts that represent other c
Paper Crafts for Hispanic Heritage Month
This is another option for crafts students can create to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Several Spanish-speaking countries are represented.
Book Lists & Recommendations
Picture Books for Hispanic Heritage Month
Read Brightly has a list of 15 books that can be used to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. These books are best suited for the elementary level.
YA Books for Hispanic Heritage Month
Read Brightly suggests five YA books that are great books to recommend to your students to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Children's & YA Books for Hispanic Heritage Month
Read Brightly has yet another list of recommended books for Hispanic Heritage Month, this time spanning from elementary to YA.
Books to Read for Latine & Hispanic Heritage Month
This comprehensive list for PRH includes YA, New Adult, and Adult books by Latina/o/e authors. Each book has a summary to help guide your Readers Advisory!
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month With Books for All Ages
Books to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month curated by the New York Public Library. This book list encompasses books for all ages, so there is enough for everyone!
Books for Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month
Penguin Random House provides a separate list just for elementary. See if any of these books from this list is something your students might like!
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
The Children’s Book Council recommends a list of books to use to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with your students. Content correlations as well as age recommendations accompany each title.
Bank Street College of Education Spanish Books
This PDF from the Bank Street College of Education includes a comprehensive list of picture books of the best books in Spanish for 2025. It includes pictures of the book as well as information to help locate the book.
Hispanic Heritage Resources
To recognize and celebrate Hispanic and Latiné activism, culture, and history, the Children's Book Council has curated an up-to-date list of new and backlist books. This is a brand-new list created in September 2025.
