
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month in Your Classroom Tomorrow

I heard we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Did you know that? Me neither.
I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t know those of Hispanic descent were celebrated on a particular month.
Well, they should be. We are a melting pot here in the United States and should be proud of it! I am.
How to Use Biographies in Your Classroom
Recently, I blogged I am developing biography about theater artists.
One is Lin Manuel Miranda.
Talk about a talent and genius! Folks, if you don’t know anything about him, you should look him up.
I plan to create lessons on a diverse group of theater artists. The other three which are completed are Ming Cho Lee and Meryl Streep. I have around thirty artists on my list at this point.
So, back to celebrating National Hispanic heritage month. Students are turned off by studying history the old fashioned way. Need something engaging and effective? Why not learn about an important person and use a creative method to secure the learning?
This lesson is suitable for middle and high school students and can be used as a stand alone lesson or with other biographies. Each lesson in the Places Please series is tailored to the strengths of that particular artist. Need a quick emergency lesson plan? Or one for a substitute? Stay tuned. This is part of a bundle.
- A Complete Bio about Lin Manuel Miranda (Note: One is written in a traditional format, and the other is like a newspaper. You pick which you want to use.)
- A Suggested Lesson, an Exercise in Rapping, Which Complements the Learning
- Important Dates in His Life
- Trivia
- Awards He Has Won
- Quotes from Miranda
- Questions and Answer Sheet
- Source & Links to Movie Examples
I am proud of the products, but I am more proud of the lesson to complement it. I don’t want to share too much about it but to say it has something to do with rap. I think kids will groove on it or at least I hope they will.
I learned a lot of interesting things about Lin Manuel Miranda while I was researching him. Miranda works on many projects at once and I do the same thing. I don’t know the reason he does, but I do it so nothing becomes too frustrating or stressful. Right now, I have a radio play, biography, short play and power point all running through my mind.
No really, I’m fine.
TeacherspayTeachers.com
If you don’t know about Teacherspayteachers.com, it is a website (similar to Etsy) where teachers sell their lesson plans. I wish I had something like it when I began teaching, because I promise you I would have used it!
I have thirty-eight years of teaching experience. I have lesson plans for every grade level, even college. My hope is to make these available to other teachers in the hopes their students will benefit from them.
In addition, I directed over 250 musicals and plays during that time and I advise beginning directors in their pursuit.
The funny thing is my husband of thirty-seven years, suggested to me many years ago that I should write up my lessons and sell them. Uhm….well, I didn’t listen to him. I thought he was biased toward me.
Well, yeah he is but you know he was RIGHT!
Recently, I asked him if there was anything else he thought I should do that I have ignored doing. He laughed. He’s so sweet.
So, if you are looking for something different to do with your students to celebrate National Mexican Heritage Month, try my Lin Manuel Miranda product.

Lin Manuel Miranda is one of my favorite people EVER. Thank you for sharing this.
I hope you’ll check out the two versions of the biography. Maybe you can use them in your classroom.
I will check them out, for sure!
I have a student who wears a Hamilton shirt at least once a week, so the audience is definitely there!
Kids will enjoy the second format the most, I think. It is colorful and similar to a newspaper.
That’s perfect! We’re writing feature articles right now!
What grade are they? This might be a little too grown up for them. The vocabulary and information might be a little dull for them, but you will know best.
Fourth grade gifted and talented
Probably no problem then. 😊