Online Learning Activities
Meet Famous Latinos: A Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Activity
Students will enjoy reading Scholastic’s biographies of six celebrated Latinos, including a Nobel Prize winner, and an astronaut.
- Grades: 1–2, 3–5
A great way to honor Hispanic Heritage Month, Scholastic’s “Meet Famous Latinos” reading activity (grades 2–5) shares the biographies of these fascinating Latinos:
- Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic American women to fly in space and a veteran of three NASA Space Shuttle flights. This bio includes an interview with Ochoa.
- Mario Molina, who won a Nobel Prize for discovering the danger of chemicals to the earth’s atmosphere. Includes an interview with Molina.
- David Diaz, an acclaimed illustrator and graphic designer. Includes an interview with Diaz.
- Pat Mora, an award-winning author who enjoys writing about her Mexican-American family. This bio includes an interview with Mora.
- Pam Munoz Ryan, a writer whose grandmother’s experiences in Mexico and the U.S. serve as inspiration for her latest book, Esperanza Rising.
- Rebecca Lobo talks to Scholastic about playing basketball for the Houston Comets in the WNBA.
The biographies can also serve as models for student writing.
Learning Objectives
While participating in the “Meet Famous Latinos” activity, students become proficient with several of these standards-based skills.
- Identify and describe traits that represent Hispanic cultures
- Study and analyze the traditions and culture of Hispanic Americans
- Read observations Hispanics make about their identity
- Conduct research on issues of identity and heritage
- Understand and summarize the contributions of Hispanic Americans
- Gather and synthesize information about Hispanic community members by using a variety of informational resources.
- Apply reading comprehension skills, including: main idea, read for detail, draw conclusions
Related Resources
Interactive timelines, web hunts, and other resources to teach students about the cultures and contributions of Latinos in the U.S.
- Subjects:American History, Hispanic and Latin American, Historic Figures, World History, Hispanic Heritage Month
