3 Virtual Field Trips for Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Finding resources that fit naturally into your curriculum to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month can sometimes be a challenge. But Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to help students explore the history, culture, geography, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. It is celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15. One simple solution is to take your students on a virtual field trip! And I've got three exciting trips I want to share with you!
Virtual field trips allow students to explore important places, learn about people, and analyze historical events from multiple perspectives. They can easily be a way to add cultural connections to your existing lesson without requiring a lot of additional prep. They even make great sub plans.
Here are three virtual field trips that can be used during Hispanic Heritage Month, or any time of year. They include a trip to Mexico City, a tour of the ancient city of Teotihuacan, and a visit to La Casa Azul to learn about the life and art of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Take your students on a virtual field trip to Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world and is a fascinating destination for studying ancient and modern history and culture. I had the privilege of traveling to Mexico City last year, and it was an epic trip filled with incredible art and history. The virtual field trip I've created will help your students better understand the relationship between ancient and modern Mexico. They will visit places such as Tenochtitlan, Templo Mayor, Catedral Metropolitana, the Palacio Nacional, and Castillo de Chapultepec.
Here's what one 4th and 5th grade teacher had to say about this virtual field trip to Mexico City: "My students absolutely loved this virtual field trip. A majority of my students are first or second-generation immigrants from Mexico and other Central American countries. They were so excited to do this trip, and it really taught both a lot of them and me a lot about Mexico." -M.S.M.
Travel Back in Time to Teotihuacan
If your students enjoy ancient history, a virtual field trip to Teotihuacan is an excellent way to connect Hispanic Heritage Month with the study of ancient civilizations. This trip pairs perfectly with the Mexico City virtual field trip, because the Pyramids of Teotihuacan are about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City. The Pyramids of Teotihuacan are a major ancient Mesoamerican city.
The site is famous for its pyramids, including the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Avenue of the Dead. This virtual field trip is a great way to remind students that the history of Latin America extends thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans.
Meet Frida Kahlo Through Her Art
Explore the life and work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This virtual field trip travels to La Casa Azul, which was the home of Frida Kahlo. Your students will explore Mexican history and culture through art and biography.
Frida Kahlo was an artist known especially for her self-portraits and artwork that incorporated elements of Mexican culture, symbolism, and her personal experiences. Her distinctive style and recognizable image have made her one of the most well-known Mexican artists in the world.
By studying Frida Kahlo, your students have an opportunity to think about how artists communicate ideas about culture, identity, and experiences through their artistic works.
How to Use These Virtual Field Trips in Your Classroom
These virtual field trips are versatile. They can be conducted as a teacher-led investigation in a whole group setting by projecting the slides, or they can be assigned as an independent activity. They can span a class period or be used as an extension activity. All of the content is ready-to-go in Google Slides with built-in links to short videos, and Google Earth 360-degree views. I've also included editable response questions to keep your students accountable as they learn and explore.
You can use these virtual field trips as a:
Whole group lesson
Independent activity
Extension or early-finisher activity
Substitute teacher activity
Homework assignment
Computer lab or technology activity
Station or center activity
Enrichment activity
Hispanic Heritage Month lesson
Introduction to a larger unit
You could also create a mini Hispanic Heritage Month series by using all three resources throughout the month.
Virtual field trips give your students a chance to see and explore the places and people they are learning about. These interactive activities help turn a traditional lesson into something students can explore and remember.
Here's what teachers are saying:
"This resource is easy to use. I left it as part of my emergency sub plans for an unexpected absence. Made my last-minute planning much easier to do." L.L, 6th grade teacher
"This is an awesome resource! We used it as part of a six-week study on Frida Kahlo and my students loved exploring her house "in person." - T.T.T. 2nd grade teacher
Find the virtual field trips here:
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