Hispanic Heritage Month Videos and Activities

Explore these videos and activities for Hispanic Heritage Month with your students. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th. This month recognizes and honors the cultures, people, and the histories of the Latino and Hispanic community. 

One way we are honoring Hispanic Heritage Month is with educational videos that share about the diversity of the Hispanic culture and all that it has to offer. Learn about some of the numerous and lesser known contributors to history, hear first hand about growing up in a variety of cultural households in the foster care system, and get a crash course in the differences between race and ethnicity.

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Bet You Didn’t Know: Latin and Hispanic Contributions Through History

American history has largely been told through the lens of those who hold the most power: white men writing about affluent white men. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we take a look at the numerous (and lesser known) contributions to science, technology, and culture by Latino and Hispanic people in the inaugural episode of "Bet You Didn’t Know."

For instance, do you know that the first color television patent was invented by a Mexican inventor and engineer in 1954? Or, that the first audio wireless voice transmission was performed by a Brazilian in 1896? This video shares about incredible advances made by Latino and Hispanic historical figures and how these innovations have helped further the advancements of technologies used today.

Jason Acosta - Who am I? The Role of Identity in Education

“Who am I?” That is a question that Jason Acosta, educator and social worker, frequently asks himself in order to continually stay true to his core. Jason grew up in foster care in the South Bronx. His childhood was spent adapting to various cultures as he moved throughout different foster care homes. 

Jason is now a Teacher Recruitment Manager for the New York City Department of Education and an adjunct professor at Hunter College where he explores the effects of moving between different family environments and cultures on one's sense of self. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, “Jason Acosta - Who am I? The Role of Identity in Education” discusses developing cultural competence and the importance of recognizing and valuing the identities and cultures of the individuals being served.

Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Crash Course Sociology

What’s the difference between race and ethnicity? In “Racial/Ethnic Prejudice and Discrimination: Crash Course Sociology,” we’ll look at how definitions of races and ethnicities have changed over time and across places. We also discuss the terms minority and minority-majority and how races are defined in the United States.

For instance, Hispanic is a term that people often think refers to race, but is actually about ethnicity. This video delves into the differences between Hispanic, Latino, and Latin American. Get a clear visual of how race is based on physical traits and ethnicity is not related to observable traits and learn how to identify the influence of race and ethnicity on social outcomes and opportunities.