Educational Resources

The steadily increasing number of Hispanic students attending K-12 classes has spawned the development of educational materials appropriate for directly addressing Hispanic students and recognizing the ways Hispanics have influenced American society.  Commercial programs as well as government material are available.  The resources cited below boast gilt-edged credentials with respect to the veracity and appropriateness of the educational materials that they offer.  Importantly, the materials are free.

EDSITEment

In conjunction with the National Trust for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Humanities has created EDSITEment, a collection of high-quality instructional materials for K-12 classes in a variety of humanities subjects. The materials are free.  Five sections were created that explore the historical context of Hispanic residence in the U.S. and how that presence has been infused in the culture of America.  Each of the five sections (e.g., Latin American & Latino History) offer lesson plans, teachers’ guides, and media resources.  Links to more than a dozen related websites and resources are listed.  The content, design, and educational impact of all websites linked to EDSITEment have been judged by humanities specialists to be of substantial intellectual quality.

National Museum of the American Latino

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino promotes the representation, understanding, and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the U.S.  In addition to expanding scholarly research and public programs, it has acquired a superb collection of online content that serves as resources for teaching and learning.  The iPresente! compilation explores broader issues that define the legacy of Latinas and Latinos in the U.S. such as “Historical Legacies” and “Shaping the Nation.”  Curators at the Museum have developed material on specific events including the massacre of Hispanic children in Uvalde, Texas.  Videos are also available, including a set of ten interviews that paint a picture of the lives and contributions of prominent Latinas.  The collection contains material suited for different age levels:  Elementary (9 to 12 years old) and Middle School (13 to 15 years old).