When you hear the first few beats of "Despacito," the unrivaled Latin pop hit of 2017, you can't keep your feet from moving! A music analysis lesson plan examines the intoxicating hit by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and introduces the...

Examine the different perspectives on the future of United States Navy bombing exercises taking place on Vieques, Puerto Rico with this lesson from The New York Times. Here, young learners read "Islanders to Vote on Vieques Bomb Drills,"...

New ReviewDebates around immigration in the news are not new, but they are a defining feature of the Hispanic American experience throughout the twentieth century. Looking through the lens of Hispanic Americans in Congress, class members explore...

New ReviewTo be Puerto Rican, in the words of one politician, is to be "foreign in a domestic sense." Young historians consider the American role in colonialism and its impacts on Hispanic Americans through the first part of the twentieth century...

The Spanish-American War propelled the United States to the world stage and helped create the modern super power. Using web-based primary sources and a WebQuest format, young scholars consider the causes and outcomes for the war. Working...

As it rose to being the new super power, America had a choice: conquer other nations like its European predecessors, or stay home. Using primary source documents from those thinking about American foreign policy in the late 1800s,...

The video explains the mass migration of many from Puerto Rico to New York due to the Great Depression. Scholars also learn how many people from Puerto Rico had to assimilate into mainstream American society and forms of racism they faced. 

West Side Story—a hit Broadway musical or a true-life tragedy about turf wars in New York City? The video shows young academics the gang wars and violence that led to the creation of the musical. It also describes how discrimination...

At one time, America, too, was a colonial power. Using clips from talks from historians, class members explore how this happened with the 1898 Treaty of Paris that ended the Spanish-American War. Afterward, they consider whether the...

Puerto Ricans are wholly American, but their history with the United States has been one of tumult. Using clips from a PBS documentary, viewers consider the history of the island and Puerto Rico's contributions to the mainland United...

While every family's immigration story is unique, patterns emerge when looking at individual narratives. Using clips from the PBS video series, "Latino Americans," learners look at commonalities among immigrant experiences. A chart helps...

From 1500-2000, an interactive timeline details important events related to Latino Americans. Next, to each date are small, yet informative blurbs—some of which include videos. 

After the Spanish-American War, Puerto Ricans were granted access to the United State of America. Follow along as a video shares the life experience of Bernardo Vega. With hopes to create a better life, Vega ventured to New York City...

What was it like to pass through Ellis Island? Learners move through the immigration process of the early 1900s in a simulation activity. A comprehensive activity includes role-playing profiles and other manipulative items such as...

If you're working on a unit about When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago, use these notes to guide your instruction. It lists the key characters, prominent literary themes, chain of events in the plot, and other elements from the...

Welcome to the Spanish-speaking world! Show your learners which countries declare Spanish as their primary language. Included are maps and flags for each Hispanophone country.

As learners read each chapter of Eric Schwartz's Crossing the Seas, they analyze the actions of United States in Venezuela, Hawaii, Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and the intent of the Monroe Doctrine. They then compare American...

Young scholars research Puerto Rico and famous Puerto Ricans on the Internet. They complete a website worksheet, create a brochure about Puerto Rico, and write about Puerto Rican cuisine.

Fourth graders are introduced to the topic of Puerto Rico and research to find facts about Puerto Rico. They work with a partner to gather information and complete a handout with 5 essential questions.

Take a trip to Puerto Rico! Learners engage in a web quest, identify Puerto Rico on the map, and gather information related to physical features and cultural factors. Their efforts culminate when they design a brochure comparing the...

Students research the history of Puerto Rico, its culture, and geography. In this Puerto Rico lesson, students find Puerto Rico on a map and find specific regions or cities. Students discuss Puerto Rico's statehood and listen to salsa...

Students explore Puerto Rico.  In this Puerto Rico current events lesson, students conduct a Webquest to answer questions about Puerto Rico's culture.  Students discuss whether Puerto Rico is a country or a state, and defend their...