Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for Schools & Classrooms

Bettiana Ruíz

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November 14, 2025

Contents

Introduction

1. Virtual Cultural Tours

2. Music and Dance Activities

3. Creative Art Projects

4. Interactive Cooking Lessons

5. Hispanic Film Festival

6. Guest Speakers

Avoid Common Mistakes

Why Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

Conclusion

Introduction

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. It’s a special time to celebrate the culture, history, and achievements of Hispanic Americans. In schools, it's also a great chance to make Spanish class Hispanic Heritage Month activities more interesting and meaningful.

When teachers add fun and interactive heritage month activities, students learn better. They also gain cultural awareness and enjoy their learning more. Using Spanish class cultural events helps students connect with the language and culture at the same time.

Here are six fun ideas for school Hispanic Heritage celebration in Spanish class.

1. Virtual Cultural Tours

What it is:

Use virtual tools to explore Spanish-speaking countries in class.

Why it works:

Students visit places like Machu Picchu (Peru), Oaxaca (Mexico), and Barcelona (Spain).
They learn about history, geography, and culture while using their Spanish.

How to do it:

Try Google Earth or online 360° tours.
Assign tasks like "Find a monument and describe it in Spanish."
Create follow-up quizzes or presentations in Spanish about what students saw.

These activities for Hispanic Heritage Month in Spanish class build language skills and cultural awareness.

2. Music and Dance Activities

What it is:

Add Hispanic music and dance to class.

Why it works:

Music improves pronunciation and listening skills.
Dance movements help reinforce vocabulary related to actions and clothing.

How to do it:

Teach lyrics from songs by Shakira, Marc Anthony, or Rosalía.
Show videos of dances like salsa, flamenco, or bachata.
Ask students to learn and perform short dance steps.
Discuss the song meanings and ask students to write about them in Spanish.

These Spanish class cultural events help students feel the rhythm and heart of Hispanic cultures.

3. Creative Art Projects

What it is:

Hands-on art related to Hispanic heritage.

Why it works:

Students love making things.
Art connects creativity and cultural learning.

How to do it:

Make papel picado (colorful, cut-out banners).
Paint murals inspired by Diego Rivera or Frida Kahlo.
Create digital art featuring Hispanic cultural symbols.
Ask students to label elements in Spanish (“la hoja”, “la flor”) and explain their work in Spanish.

These heritage month activities for students mix art with language practice in an exciting way.

4. Interactive Cooking Lessons

What it is:

Virtual or in-class cooking lessons for simple Hispanic dishes.

Why it works:

Cooking uses real-life language.
Students see, taste, and speak Spanish while learning.

How to do it:

Share easy recipes like guacamole or simple tacos.
Use step-by-step Spanish instructions (e.g., “Mezcla el aguacate”, “Corta la cebolla”).
Practice food-related vocabulary.
Let students prepare a small dish at home and describe the process in Spanish.

These activities for Hispanic Heritage Month in Spanish class bring culture right into the kitchen.

5. Hispanic Film Festival

What it is:

Hold a mini-film festival of age-appropriate Hispanic movies or short films.

Why it works:

Films show language in real-life use.
They highlight stories and traditions from Hispanic cultures.

How to do it:

Choose movies like Coco (Mexico), El laberinto del fauno (Spain), or animated shorts.
Use Spanish subtitles to help with understanding.
After the film, lead a discussion in Spanish: What was the story about? How did the characters feel?
You can also assign essays or group summaries in Spanish.

These Spanish class cultural events help students use Spanish to discuss emotions and culture.

6. Guest Speakers

What it is:

Invite Hispanic or Spanish-speaking guests to talk in class.

Why it works:

Real speakers offer authentic listening practice.
Students can ask questions and hear real accents.

How to do it:

Set up virtual or in-person talks with Hispanic professionals writers, musicians, chefs, or students.
Prepare questions in Spanish (“¿De dónde vienes?”, “¿Qué haces en tu trabajo?”).
Let students practice listening, note-taking, and asking questions.

Guest visits help students see how Spanish is used in everyday life and work.

Avoid Common Mistakes

When planning school Hispanic Heritage celebration, watch out for these pitfalls:

Skipping planning: Don’t jump in without clear goals. Decide what you want students to learn vocabulary, cultural facts, or communication skills.
No skill checks: Assess students first so you know their Spanish levels and can design activities that match them.
Lack of teacher support: Teachers should join the activities too and show enthusiasm. When adults participate, students get more involved.
One-size-fits-all: Adjust activities for different ages and Spanish skills. Younger students might do craft projects, older ones can discuss films or history in detail.

Planning well ensures your Hispanic Heritage Month activities run smoothly and are fun for everyone. For more great Spanish classroom engagement ideas, check out our other posts.

Why Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month?

By adding these heritage month activities for students into Spanish class, schools do more than teach a language.

Boosts engagement: Students love music, art, food, and real interactions.
Builds cultural awareness: They learn about customs, holidays, dances, and foods from Hispanic countries.
Improves Spanish skills: Listening to music and films, discussing ideas, and making art all help language learning.
Promotes inclusion: Hispanic students feel seen and heard. All students celebrate diversity.

When these Spanish class Hispanic Heritage Month lessons work well, everyone learns better and grows together.

Putting It All Together

Here’s a sample schedule for a month-long celebration:

Week 1: Virtual Cultural Tours

Explore different Hispanic countries online. Students present what they find in Spanish.

Week 2: Music & Dance

Learn lyrics, sing, dance maybe record a short video performance in Spanish.

Week 3: Art Projects & Film Festival

Make papel picado and paint murals. Watch a Hispanic film and discuss it.

Week 4: Cooking & Guest Speakers

Cook a simple dish at home using Spanish recipes. Invite a guest to talk in Spanish.

Each week includes hands-on activities and language learning, making this a full and fun school Hispanic Heritage celebration.

Conclusion

By using these activities for Hispanic Heritage Month in Spanish class, teachers make learning feel lively and relevant.

From virtual tours and cooking lessons to film festivals and crafts, students use Spanish while celebrating culture. They gain language skills, cultural respect, and a deeper connection to their community.

These Spanish class cultural events help students use Spanish beyond grammar books; they talk, cook, listen, create, and connect. For more cultural tips for Spanish teachers, see our guide. Let's turn Hispanic Heritage Month into something students will love! It should be a time for learning, celebration, and deeper appreciation of Hispanic cultures.

Bettiana Ruíz

Academic Team

Bettiana Ruíz is a dedicated Spanish teacher from Montevideo, Uruguay, with extensive experience teaching both children and adults. She enjoys sharing cultural insights through language learning. Outside the classroom, she loves animals, beach walks, reading, and connecting with people from around the world through travel and conversation.