Middle schoolers trace sailing route of Spanish and Portuguese exploration ships. They calculate and compare distances that different explorers traveled. Students calculate how long it would take to travel an explorer's route using...

Students use the Internet, encyclopedias, and other library resources to discover basic facts about the Battle of New Orleans and the 1768 revolt by French colonists in Spanish Louisiana. They examine two websites that give information...

Second graders are comparing and contrasting two stories, The Three Bears and Abuelo and the Three Bears. The first story is the traditional fairy tale. The second one is a different version of the story with some Spanish words and phrases.

Students describe and compare a kitchen utensil that they are familiar with and a target culture kitchen tool that they may have never seen. They will gain cultural insight by writing a short paragraph comparing them and describing what...

Students create a character that could be included in a dialog from stories about Isabel. They use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the characters. Students work in groups to create a new character and draw an illustration. They...

Fourth graders will analyze the similarities and differences between early Texas Indian tribes, compare and contrast two tribes, select to which tribe they would rather belong, and determine their location today.

Students create questions for an interview about the environment. They interview a peer using their written questions, and then interview a native Spanish speaker about the environment.

Students identify how Christmas holidays are celebrated in Mexico, compare Mexican holidays with U.S. holidays, and learn Mexican customs. Lesson includes many downloadable activities to try with students.

High schoolers learn the history of Christianity in New Spain. They learn the story and significance of the Virgin of Guadalupe. They compare and contrast images of the Virgin and religious art to European counterparts.

Students discuss the common areas in their neighborhood and compare them to plazas in Venezuela. They research the plazas of Merida, Venezuela, and create a plan for a plaza in their own neighborhood.

Students analyze the role cigar making played in Ybor City. They examine how cigars are made and the different societies who helped immigrants keep their identify. They compare and contrast their own community to Ybor City.

Young scholars research the concept of a dungeon during the time of the 18th century. They are looking for its significance and the reason for its construction tied to the lifestyles of people during the time. Students compare and...

Students identify the three major categories of food eaten by bison. In groups, they collect examples of grass and forbs and press them. They complete a chart of the percentages of each type of food the bison eat in a day. They...

Students explore regular geometric shapes. In this shapes instructional activity, students investigate geometric shapes in the world around them. Students differentiate between regular and irregular shapes.

Seventh graders view a painting of the destruction of Mission San Saba in Texas. They discuss the painting and identify information that they can infer from the painting.

Students investigate the use of colors in different areas of society. They make contrasts of its uses in places like home and school. Realia is used to determine the ability of students to recognize colors and how they relate to the...

Students examine how birthdays are celebrated in other cultures and compare them with their own cultural celebration. They make a pinata similar to those used at Spanish birthday celebrations. They associate this active with a PBS...

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the New York Times provides links to five short documentary films depicting Hispanic themes and culture. Learners can click on each embedded link to view the films, then answer each set of related...

Analyze and make inferences from the information used by linguists to construct the evolution of languages. They research different dating techniques to explain how scientists infer age with evidence.

Upper elementary learners identify the Aztecs as the builders of a great city and rich civilization in what is now Mexico. They locate the Aztec Empire and its capital on a map and place the Aztecs in the chronology of American history....

Students are divided into groups and follow directions of their group leaders and complete a worksheet while on site.

Students identify the major aspects of Olmec and Mayan civilzations, including economic, political, and religious. They list contributions of these civilizations. Students identify the Central American countries where the United States...

Have your middle schoolers participate in numerous activities designed to spark their awareness of literature. They express ideas and concerns clearly and respectfully in conversations and group discussions. Next, they view a music...

The Massacre of Tlatelolco is the focus of a discussion-based instructional activity. Civil-minded learners consider the nature of student movements that have ended in violence based on over-reaction and government oppression. They...