Independencia de México: Cultural Spanish Class Activities

Mexico celebrates its independence each year on September 15th and 16th. On September 15th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo launched a movement to free Mexico from Spanish rule. This movement grew into a revolution, which led to the official declaration of independence from Spain on September 16th, 1810.

Today, Mexicans celebrate their independence with parades, festivals, and parties in honor of the heroes who fought for their freedom. In Mexico City, the celebration is kicked off with the ringing of the bell of freedom at 11pm on the night of September 15th and is followed by fireworks at midnight to commemorate the beginning of a new era for Mexico.

Here are some activities to celebrate Mexico’s culture!

• El Mariachi Mexicano – México – Cultural Presentation & Activities – Introduce your students to Mariachi from México. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides in Spanish and English for them to bring cultural traditions to your classes.

• Lucha Libre Mexicana – México – Cultural Presentation & Activities (SPA & ENG) – Introduce your students to Lucha Libre Mexicana or Mexican Wrestling from Mexico. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides in Spanish and English for them to bring cultural traditions to your classes.

• Mariachis en la época de Covid – Cultural Activity: Identidad nacional – In this reading and visual comprehension activity, students learn about Mariachis in Mexico, their “serenatas” and how they are working to help people and health professionals during the pandemic.

• Comida tradicional – Scaffolded Cultural Activity: Identidad nacional y étnica  – In this activity, students learn about Mexican gastronomy, and how food represents the identity of a community.

• Arte Chicano – Scaffolded Cultural Activity: Identidad nacional y étnica – In this artistic mini-project, students learn about the Chicano Art in Mexico and read information about this cultural event.

• Color Rosa Mexicano Scaffolded Cultural Activity: Identidad pública y … – In this project, students learn about the traditional colors of Mexico, what a logo is, and how the colors represent its culture.

• Spanish Song: México en la piel by Luis Miguel – Vocabulary: Mexican culture – With this song, your students will practice Vocabulary: Mexican culture or vocabulario: la cultura mexicana by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Paper Bag Piñatas – Spanish Sub Lesson Plan for Novice Students – Piñatas are containers typically made with papier-mâché or pottery. They are often linked with Mexico, where the containers are brightly decorated and filled with candy or small presents, before being strung up and broken as a celebration event. This activity gives students an opportunity to make their own piñatas with household materials, adorning the piñatas with traditional tissue paper fringe, and filling them with candy and other small treats.

• Rancheras Mexican Musical Tradition – Spanish Sub-Plan for Advanced Students – Through viewing an authentic music video of Cielito Lindo and reading the corresponding lyrics, students will become familiar with the ranchera, a Mexican music tradition that defines Mexican musical identity according to many scholars.

• Spanish Song: Cielito lindo by Divididos – Present and Imperative – With this song, your students will practice Present and Imperative or verbos en presente del indicativo y adjetivos descriptivos by filling in the blanks digitally in the same document.

• Biography in Spanish – Diego Rivera (Pintor) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Diego Rivera.

• Biography – Frida Kahlo (Pintora) – México (Spanish & English) – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Frida Kahlo.

• Biography in Spanish – Cantinflas (Actor) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Cantinflas.

• Biography in Spanish – Edward James Olmos (Actor) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Edward James Olmos.

• Biography – Salma Hayek (Actriz) – México (Spanish & English) – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Salma Hayek.

• Biography – Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (Religiosa, escritora)- México (SPA & ENG) – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.

• Biography in Spanish – Carlos Santana (Guitarrista) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Carlos Santana.

• Biography in Spanish – Selena (Singer) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Selena.

• Biography in Spanish – Cesar Chávez (Activista) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Cesar Chávez.

• Biography in Spanish – Ellen Ochoa (Astronaut) – México – Introduce your students to notable Hispanics/Latinos in your classes. Use these ready-to-use Google Slides for them to discover the incredible life and achievements of Ellen Ochoa.