Did you know that September 15 – October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month? Started in 1968 (as Hispanic Heritage Week), the now month-long observation recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States. September 15th is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence days in September. Today, there are more than 44 million people in the U.S. who are of Hispanic origins.
A great way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is learning more about Hispanic culture. POV documentaries are a great way to bring the celebration into your classroom or community. You can borrow full DVDs from our free Lending Library, or visit our Educators page to access standards-aligned lesson plans and streaming clips for use in the classroom. POV films span a range of topics and countries, from a donkey library in Columbia, to female matadors in Spain, to the U.S. Mexico border, to astronomers in Chile and more. Check out some of these recommended titles: Al Otro Lado, Biblioburro: The Donkey Library, Calavera Highway, Ella Es El Matador, Granito: How to Nail a Dictator, Nostalgia for the Light, Reportero and Sin País (Without Country).
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