fbpx

KidsKonnect

National Hispanic Heritage Month Facts & Worksheets

The National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of culture and origin of Latinos and Hispanic Americans in the United States.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Seasonal and Holiday /Celebrations /National Hispanic Heritage Month Facts & Worksheets

Premium
National Hispanic Heritage Month Worksheets
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

The National Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of culture and origin of Latinos and Hispanic Americans in the United States. The month-long event begins from September 15 until October 15. The celebration coincides with national independence days of several Latin American countries including Guatemala, Honduras,
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile and Belize.

See the fact file below for more information on the National Hispanic Heritage Month or alternatively, you can download our 23-page National Hispanic Heritage Month worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History and Celebration

  • In 1968, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson first proclaimed the Hispanic Heritage Week as sponsored by Congress. It was expanded to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. The Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.
  • September 15 was chosen as the starting date to celebrate the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, all in 1812.
  • Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16, followed by Chile on September 18 and Belize on September 21.
  • The National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States, Canada and Latin America. The 30-day period aims to celebrate the culture, achievements and contributions of American citizens with Hispanic roots.
  • Among the activities are festivals, concerts, film screenings and exhibits.
  • From 15 to 25 September, the El Barrio Latin Jazz festival takes place in the Bronx, New York.
  • Throughout the month, the National Museum of American History hosts Hispanic dance performances and exhibitions.
  • In Chicago, the Annual Latino Music Festival is observed during this period.

Hispanic Population in the United States

  • Hispanic refers to the ethnic group consisting of people from Cuban, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, Mexican and other Spanish cultures. In 1997, the United States categorized the ethnic group as Hispanic or Latino.
  • After Asians, Hispanics are the second-fastest growing racial group in the United States, comprising 18% of the nation’s population. There are about 57 million Hispanics in the United States today.
  • As of 2014, the highest Hispanic population resides in California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas, while a million live in Washington, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey, Arizona, Nevada, Massachusetts, Georgia, Colorado and North Carolina. An estimated 55% of adult Latinos are Catholic.
  • Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the United States, next to English. Two-thirds of the nation’s Latinos are of Mexican origin.
  • Prior to the establishment of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Hispanic cities of St. Augustine, Florida, and Santa Fe were already founded.
  • The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 ended the Mexican-American War, which also enabled the annexation of Mexican territories including today’s Texas, New Mexico and California.
  • There are approximately 1.1 million veterans in the United States who are of Hispanic origin.
  • The largest group of immigrants in most states are composed of Latinos from Mexico. Immigrants from El Salvador populate the states of Virginia and Maryland, while those from the Dominican Republic lead in New York and Rhode Island. Moreover, Cuba is the top birthplace of immigrants in Florida.

Famous Hispanic People

  • In many aspects of American society, there are a growing number of Hispanic people who have influenced and contributed to the United States. Here are some of them:
    • Mel Martinez is the first Cuban-American senator and one of two Hispanics in the Senate. He also served as the Housing Secretary of former president George W. Bush.
    • Famous journalists and writers including Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Geraldo Rivera and Gary Soto.
    • A number of Hollywood actors including Lynda Carter, Cameron Diaz, Emilio Estevez, America Ferrera, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Anthony Quinn, Charlie Sheen, Raul Julia, and Sammy Davis Jr.
    • Selena Gomez, Gloria Estefan, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin and Rita Moreno are among the famous singers of Hispanic origin.
    • Sports icons like Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Alomar, Jose Canseco, Scott Gomez, Pedro Martinez and Nancy Lopez have Hispanic heritage.

Hispanic Influence in the U.S.

  • Aside from Roman Catholicism and the Spanish language, Hispanic culture has influenced America with their tasty cuisine. Among the most popular Hispanic dishes in the United States are tortillas, tamales, tacos, different salsas and condiments like guacamole, pico de gallo and mole.
  • Hispanics are known for their strong value on family. They tend to close-knit families beyond that of the nuclear family. Three generations usually live in the same house or nearby, making family gatherings a common event.
  • In 1986, Billboard magazine introduced the Hot Latin Songs and Top Latin Albums chart in 1993. Since then, Latino musicians have started to penetrate the American music scene.

National Hispanic Heritage Month Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about National Hispanic Heritage Month across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use National Hispanic Heritage Month worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the National Hispanic Heritage Month which is a celebration of culture and origin of Latinos and Hispanic Americans in the United States. The month-long event begins from September 15 until October 15. The celebration coincides with national independence days of several Latin American countries including Guatemala, Honduras,
El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile and Belize.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • National Hispanic Heritage Month Facts
  • Mapping Independence
  • Famous Hispanics
  • Hispanic Culture
  • La Fiesta
  • Hispanic Population
  • Latinos in L.A.
  • Taste of Hispanic America
  • Flag Completion
  • Between the Two
  • Let’s Celebrate!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated?

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from September 15-October 15. This is a time to honor the achievements and contributions of Hispanics in the United States. These individuals have inspired others to achieve success. Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the Hispanic culture and how it has helped to shape America. We see the Hispanic heritage in every aspect of our lives.

Why is Hispanic Heritage Month in the middle of two months?

Hispanic Heritage Month is split between September and October because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations in several Central American countries. It also used to be celebrated for only one week but was later expanded to a month-long celebration.

How do you celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month respectfully?

A respectful way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is to enjoy Hispanic food, dress, and events that happen each year within the Hispanic community. You can also learn more about the history and culture of Hispanics during this time.

Subscribe to KidsKonnect on YouTube →

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as National Hispanic Heritage Month Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 28, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources