25+ Famous Latino People Every Spanish Teacher Should Know
September 27, 2026
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¡Viva México! As September 16th approaches, it’s the perfect time to bring the rich history and vibrant culture of Mexican Independence Day into your classroom with meaningful Mexican Independence Day Activities. Whether you’re teaching regular education, bilingual, or Spanish classes, these Mexican classroom activities double as bicultural lesson ideas that engage students across all grade levels while teaching Spanish culture and celebrating Mexican heritage and history.
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Mexican Independence Day isn’t just another date on the calendar: it’s a gateway to understanding freedom, cultural identity, and the power of standing up for what’s right. In our increasingly diverse classrooms, celebrating Día de la Independencia helps all students appreciate Mexican culture while building bridges between communities.
Plus, let’s be honest: kids love celebrations! And when you can combine learning with festivities through hands-on Mexican Independence Day Activities, you’ve got a winning combination that’ll keep your students engaged and excited about history.
Here’s the history lesson your students need to know: On September 16, 1810, a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla stood on the steps of his church in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato. At dawn, he rang the church bells and delivered a passionate speech calling for Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. This moment, known as “El Grito de Dolores” (The Cry of Dolores), sparked a revolution that would change Mexico forever.
After more than 300 years under Spanish colonial rule, the Mexican people were ready for change. Hidalgo’s cry for freedom: ¡Independencia! ¡Viva México!: ignited a movement that would ultimately lead to Mexico’s liberation in 1821.
Young learners need hands-on, visual activities that make history come alive. Here are some ideas that work beautifully:
Mexican Flag Craft: Have students create their own Mexican flags while learning about the country’s national symbols. The green represents hope, white symbolizes unity, and red stands for the blood of heroes. You can grab a free printable flag by clicking here! Just download, print, and go, making this Mexican classroom activity super manageable!
El Grito Role Play: Let your little ones take turns being Father Hidalgo, ringing a bell (or shaking a maraca) and shouting “¡Viva México!” They’ll love the drama, and you’ll love how engaged they become—it’s a quick bicultural lesson idea they’ll remember.
Independence Day Vocabulary: Introduce key Spanish words like libertad (freedom), independencia (independence), héroe (hero), and bandera (flag). Create simple matching games or picture cards to reinforce learning. Try our Spanish flash cards and Boom Cards for no-prep practice.
Older elementary students can dive deeper into the historical significance:
Timeline Creation: Have students create visual timelines showing key events from 1810 to 1821. This helps them understand that independence was a process, not a single event.
Compare and Contrast: Use Venn diagrams to compare Mexican Independence Day with July 4th in the United States. What’s similar? What’s different? This activity helps students think critically about different paths to freedom and supports bicultural lesson ideas for teaching Spanish culture.
Older elementary students can dive deeper into the historical significance:
Timeline Creation: Have students create visual timelines showing key events from 1810 to 1821. This helps them understand that independence was a process, not a single event.
Compare and Contrast: Use Venn diagrams to compare Mexican Independence Day with July 4th in the United States. What’s similar? What’s different? This activity helps students think critically about different paths to freedom and supports bicultural lesson ideas for teaching Spanish culture.
Older students can tackle more complex questions: Why was a priest leading a revolution? How did the independence movement affect different social classes? What role did indigenous peoples play in the fight for freedom?
Document-Based Questions: Use primary sources like excerpts from Hidalgo’s speeches or letters from the period. Students can analyze these documents to understand different perspectives on independence.
Research Projects: Assign students to research other heroes of Mexican independence like José María Morelos, Ignacio Allende, or Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez. This broadens their understanding beyond just one figure. These Mexican Independence Day Activities are ideal for teaching Spanish culture through inquiry.
The video below, as well as this one, is an excellent overview of the holiday for middle and high school children. If you teach younger kids, click here for a more appropriate video. If you don’t like these, simply search on YouTube and you will find many more!
The History of Mexico for Kids: A Fun and Educational Activity Book to Keep Your Young Minds Busy (This includes a section on Independence Day as well as a lot of additional history, making it a fabulous resource!)
“The Course of Mexican History” by Michael Meyer includes comprehensive chapters on the independence movement.
Introduce students to traditional Mexican music played during independence celebrations. Mariachi songs like “Cielito Lindo” or “La Cucaracha” add authentic cultural flavor and support teaching Spanish culture. If you have musically inclined students, they might even learn to play simple melodies on classroom instruments.
Discuss traditional foods associated with the celebration as bicultural lesson ideas. Chiles en nogada, with its green, white, and red colors matching the Mexican flag, has special significance during Independence Day. You could even organize a simple cooking activity (depending on your school’s policies) or invite parents to share traditional recipes.
Create papel picado (Mexican paper banners) as a classroom decoration project. These colorful, intricate paper designs are essential to Mexican celebrations and provide excellent fine-motor practice for younger students while allowing older students to explore more complex geometric patterns. It’s one of those Mexican classroom activities that works across ages.
If you’re incorporating Spanish language learning, Mexican Independence Day offers an authentic context for vocabulary and cultural understanding. Students can learn patriotic songs, practice pronunciation with vocabulary related to independence, and even deliver their own mini “gritos” in Spanish. For no-prep practice, try my Boom Cards and Spanish vocabulary task cards. Want a quick, friendly read on why the right materials keep students engaged? Check out Why Bilingual Resources Matter: Keeping Spanish Learners Engaged (and Teachers Sane!).
For bilingual classrooms, this celebration provides perfect opportunities for translanguaging: letting students express themselves in both English and Spanish as they explore this important historical event.
• Exit tickets with one thing they learned and one question they still have
• Quick sketches showing their understanding of key events
• Vocabulary charades using Spanish independence terms
• Create museum exhibits about Mexican Independence
• Write and perform historical skits
• Design infographics comparing independence movements across Latin America
Planning engaging lessons takes time: time that many of us just don’t have! That’s where quality teaching resources become absolute lifesavers. If you’re looking for comprehensive, ready-to-use materials for Mexican Independence Day Activities, check out the Fabulous Classroom TPT store for bilingual resources that work across grade levels, including Spanish flash cards, Spanish task cards, color-by-number sets, and Boom Cards.
These materials are designed by a teacher, for teachers, which means they’re classroom-tested and student-approved. Plus, many resources include both English and Spanish versions, perfect for diverse learning environments.
Remember, not all your students will have Mexican heritage, and that’s perfectly fine! Frame this celebration as an opportunity for everyone to learn about an important moment in North American history. Encourage students to share their own family’s immigration or independence stories, creating connections between Mexican history and their personal experiences.
For students with Mexican roots, this celebration can be incredibly affirming and pride-building. Make space for them to share family traditions or stories, if they’re comfortable.
We all know how quickly time flies at the beginning of the school year, so get a head start on your Día de los Muertos planning with this post! It’s filled with tons of fabulous resources for teaching everything about the holiday, celebrating it with your students and children, and using it as a theme to teach other topics. Even better, it includes a FREE resource that I know you will love! You can also find several Día de los Muertos and Halloween-themed resources in my TPT store, so definitely check those out as well!
Ready to celebrate? Start planning your Mexican Independence Day activities now! Whether you have one class period or a whole week to dedicate to this topic, you can create meaningful learning experiences that stick with students long after September 16th passes.
Gather your materials, plan your activities, and get ready to bring history to life. Your students will love learning about Miguel Hidalgo’s brave stand for freedom, and you’ll love seeing their engagement and cultural understanding grow.
¡Viva la educación! Here’s to celebrating independence, culture, and the joy of learning together.
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