Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Culture Comes Alive in our class.
Aranzazu Gallastegui
ID-2021
School Name:Aubrey Rogers High
Grant Request Grade:9-12
Grant Request Subject:Other
Additional Details
The goal of this project is to bring Hispanic culture to life in the classroom through hands-on, meaningful cultural experiences during Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the school year. Students will explore the traditions, art, history, and celebrations of Spanish-speaking countries by actively creating cultural displays and participating in authentic learning experiences.
Students will participate in a series of hands-on cultural activities that bring Hispanic traditions, art, food, and celebrations into the classroom. Rather than learning about Hispanic culture only through textbooks and videos, students will actively create, explore, and experience cultural traditions.
Students will use project materials to create and decorate Día de los Muertos altars (ofrendas), make traditional paper flowers and papel picado, design and decorate skeletons and calaveras, and create cultural displays representing different Spanish-speaking countries. Students will learn the meaning and history behind each tradition as they complete the activities.
The project will also incorporate traditional foods and treats from Hispanic cultures, allowing students to connect food with geography, traditions, celebrations, and the Spanish language. Activities will encourage students to use Spanish vocabulary, collaborate with classmates, research cultural traditions, and share what they have learned.
The finished student work will be displayed in the classroom and school to create an engaging Hispanic Heritage celebration that allows students to become active participants in the culture they are studying.
Students will benefit from an interactive and memorable approach to learning Spanish and Hispanic culture. By creating cultural decorations, ofrendas, flowers, calaveras, and other traditional projects, students will move beyond textbooks and become active participants in their learning.
These experiences will help students connect language with real-world culture, strengthen cultural awareness, encourage creativity and collaboration, and increase engagement in the Spanish classroom. Experiencing traditional foods and celebrations will also allow students to use their senses and make meaningful connections to the diverse Spanish-speaking world.
The project will create an inclusive and welcoming classroom environment where Hispanic traditions are celebrated, and all students have access to cultural experiences regardless of their personal or financial circumstances. Most importantly, students will develop a greater appreciation for cultural diversity while creating positive memories associated with learning Spanish.
The requested funding will be used to purchase materials and supplies that allow students to participate in hands-on Hispanic cultural experiences and celebrations throughout the school year. Funds will support materials for creating Día de los Muertos ofrendas and displays, paper flowers, papel picado, calaveras, skeleton decorations, flags, and other student-created cultural projects representing traditions from the Spanish-speaking world.
Funding will also help provide traditional Hispanic foods, snacks, and treats connected to the cultures and celebrations being studied, allowing students to experience culture in an authentic and memorable way. Additional supplies may include colorful paper, tissue paper, cardstock, markers, paint, adhesives, craft materials, decorative items, and display materials needed to showcase student work.
These resources will transform cultural lessons from something students simply read or hear about into experiences they can create, see, taste, discuss, and share. Grant funding will ensure that all students can participate in these activities without requiring families to purchase individual supplies and will help create an engaging classroom environment that celebrates the diversity of the Hispanic world.
