We have so much on our plates as teachers. Not only are we responsible for teaching core subjects, but when October rolls around, we’re also expected to plan meaningful Hispanic Heritage Month activities. If you’re anything like me, you want something that’s both engaging and low-prep.
As a teacher who teaches all subjects, I’m always looking for quick, easy, and meaningful ways to integrate cultural celebrations. That’s why I created these bilingual Hispanic Heritage Month biography posters. It’s a great research activity that’s fun for students and doesn’t take up too much instructional time.
These posters are ready to go, easy to print, and give students a chance to learn about the lives of 44 influential Hispanic and Latino figures from different fields—including science, politics, sports, music, civil rights, and more.
Why Use Biography Posters?
Students LOVE these posters because they feel creative and independent while working on them. Teachers love them because:
- They’re bilingual (Spanish and English)
- They use real-life images instead of cartoon graphics
- They work for the whole class, a small group, or even sub plans
- They’re ideal for upper elementary or middle school
Print them on legal-size (8.5 x 14) paper so students have enough space to write. You can also use ledger (11 x 17) paper if you want your students to have more space or want to display them prominently.
Research Hispanic Leaders from Different Fields
It might be tempting to let students choose a Hispanic Figure they would like to research, but if you don’t provide some guidance, you’ll have most of your students wanting to research people in the entertainment industry. The goal is to introduce them to new, inspiring figures they may not have heard of before.
Here are three ways to assign Hispanic figures to students:
- Use a random wheel generator like wheelofnames.com
- Lay out printed posters on a table and let students take turns choosing in small groups of 5
- Randomly choose students for different categories
Personally, I use the third method. When I called up students in groups last year, they all grabbed the celebrities first, and we missed the chance to explore lesser-known, but equally impactful, leaders.
Use Kid-Friendly Research Sites
Have students research their person using safe sites like:
Before students begin, review how to paraphrase instead of copying directly from the internet. This is a great opportunity to build research and writing skills while honoring the contributions of Hispanic Americans.
Set the Tone with Latin Music
While students are working, I play Latin music playlists using Pandora or Spotify. Just search for “Hispanic Heritage” and you’ll find great options. Keep the volume low, or else your students will be out of their seats dancing (I know mine do)!
Don’t Do Whole Class Student Presentations
I don’t recommend whole-class presentations—they take too long, and kids tune out. Instead, I randomly choose 4 students ( I use popsicle sticks with their names written on them) and have them get into groups of three. Then each student takes turns sharing what they learned with their small group. You
This oral language practice is especially helpful for English Learners and keeps everyone engaged. For
Extension Ideas
Want to take it further? Try one of these ideas:
- Have students create a doll of their figure using a toilet paper roll
- Organize a wax museum presentation where students dress up as their favorite figure
If you decide to do the wax museum, here’s an important tip:
Send a note or email to families letting them know that students can be creative using clothes they already have.
Otherwise, some students might go home saying they need a full costume, and you’ll start getting emails from concerned parents. Save yourself the headache and send out a parent note the day you tell your students about the wax museum.
Real-Life Images Make the Difference
One of the things I love most about this project is that it uses real photos of the Hispanic figures, not cartoon-style illustrations.
I know that some teachers favor the cartoon image of these figures, but I think real-life images are better because most of the time, students haven’t even seen pictures of these prominent leaders. So it’s good for them to know who these people really look like.
Grab the Hispanic Heritage Month Project Here
This bilingual Hispanic Heritage Month research project includes 44 biography posters featuring leaders from:
- Politics
- Sports
- Music
- Civil Rights
- Science
- Entrepreneurship
- Literature & Media
Use them for Hispanic Heritage Month or anytime you want to spotlight diverse leaders in your classroom. It’s the perfect no-prep project that your students will love and learn from! You got this! Giselle
