Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Hispanic Heritage month will be celebrated September 15- October 15, 2022. Signed into federal law in 1988 under President Ronald Reagan, it actually began two decades earlier as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. While it’s unusual to start commemorative weeks or months mid-month, there’s a reason the timeframe was chosen; within this thirty day period, seven separate Latin American countries will celebrate their Independence Days.
The purpose of marking Hispanic Heritage Month is to bring a spotlight to the positive, important influence Hispanic Americans and Hispanic cultures have contributed to the story of America– its past, present, and future.
Resources
The official federal government web page for Hispanic Heritage Month, which is hosted by the Library of Congress, brings together a rich collection of information– much of it multimedia in nature. There’s a special section with resources for teachers, but the entire site is worth exploring not just for information, but for enjoyment. It also features material from many renowned sources: The National Gallery of Art, The Library of Congress, The Smithsonian, The National Archives, The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The National Parks Service, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, Hispanic Americans have lived in Wisconsin since before we even became a state. In the 20th century, Hispanic Americans gravitated here before, during, and after the civil war, enriching our communities and helping shape our state’s future. Learn more about the Hispanic History of Wisconsin on the WHS web page, where there are great resources including slide shows, narratives, and book recommendations to enrich classroom learning and exploration.
Finally, make sure to check out DPI’s own Badgerlink Resources for exploring Hispanic Heritage in the classroom with different age cohorts provides an easy jumping off point for educators of all different experience levels.
We look forward to hearing the innovative ways you and other educators from across Wisconsin incorporate Hispanic Heritage learning in your classroom.