Latino-American & Hispanic Heritage

From the LATINO AMERICANS' Education page:

"The education initiative for LATINO AMERICANS invites teachers and learners to explore the many ways that Latinos are woven into the fabric of the United States' story. Through relevant and engaging lesson plans and activities, these resources seek to inspire a better understanding of the nation's fastest growing demographic group and its history. Far from a monolithic block, Latino Americans include diverse communities, perspectives and experiences.

Through content designed for grades 7 to post 12, students will unravel complex stories that will take them from colonial California to debates taking place in today's Congress. Along the way, learners will explore how the experiences of Latinos illuminate and challenge the broader narrative of the United States – with regard to its growth and its struggle to live out its commitments to democracy, opportunity and equality.

Written by teachers for teachers, each lesson offers a flexible framework to examine key questions and is fully aligned with Common Core Standards in reading and writing, as well as national standards for Social Studies. With innovative content that touches on history, geography, civics, demographics, literature and the arts – not to mention complete availability in both English and Spanish – the LATINO AMERICANS curriculum fits the needs of multiple classrooms and informal learning settings."

The Lesson Plans included in the LATINO AMERICANS documentary website include:

• Extranjeros and Expansion - Grades 7-12
• Stories of Arrival - Grades 4-12
• Identity, Immigration, and Economics: The involuntary deportations of the 1930s - Grades 7-12
• Latinos at the Ballot Box - Grades 7-12
• Stereotypes and Statistics - Grades 9-12

► Go to LESSON PLANS  (external link.)

"LATINO AMERICANS lessons are developed for grades 7-12 and adaptable to other grade levels. They are written in standard PBS lesson format, complete with teacher information (goals, standards, and background), opening or warm up activity(s), featured activity(s) with short video clips (5 to 15 minutes) and discussion questions, culminating activities with authentic assessment, evaluation rubrics, extension activities, and resources. Lessons are structured to be completed in 3–4 class sessions, but can be adopted for shorter or longer times."

Activities listed on the Latino Americans documentary website include:

• Students rising - Grades 7-12
• Puerto Rican perspectives - Grades 7-12
• Farmworkers Movement - Grades 7-12
• Digging at the roots of my family tree - Grades 4-12
• Who are Latinos? - Grades 4-12
• What's in a name? - Grades 4-12

►  Go to ACTIVITIES (external link.)

"Since LATINO AMERICANS is so rich in educational themes and we know that teachers have a limited amount of time, we have developed a series of quick, adaptable activities for classroom use. Each activity contains a brief overview along with ideas you can use to create lessons tailored to your individual class curriculum and teaching style."