Celebrating Hispanic Heritage in the Elementary Music Classroom

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage in the Elementary Music Classroom: Why It Matters

By Analisa Byrd

 In today's diverse world, embracing and celebrating different cultures is more important than ever, especially in the music classroom. One way to do this is by celebrating Hispanic Heritage, which honors Hispanic and Latino Americans' contributions, history, and cultures. This celebration is not just about recognizing historical figures; it’s a vibrant, exciting way to bring different perspectives, traditions, and flavors into the music classroom, helping young students develop cultural awareness and appreciation. Incorporating Hispanic Heritage into the music classroom is not only a joyful way to celebrate a rich culture but also allows young students to discover the magic of diversity in music.

One key reason to celebrate Hispanic Heritage in music class is the chance to introduce students to new and exciting genres. From salsa to tango, mariachi to reggaetón, Hispanic music spans multiple styles, each with unique rhythms and instruments. By introducing these diverse sounds into the classroom, students expand their musical horizons beyond the more familiar Western classical or pop music they may already be familiar with. This can ignite their curiosity and love for music, encouraging them to appreciate how people express themselves through sound. 

Music is a universal language, and learning about the music of different cultures helps foster an appreciation for diversity. Hispanic Heritage Month is an ideal time to spotlight the rich cultural contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities to the world of music. As students learn about Hispanic music's history, traditions, and instruments, they gain insights into the cultural stories behind the melodies. This knowledge nurtures empathy, helping students develop a respect for cultures that might differ from their own.

Also, seeing their culture celebrated in the classroom can be empowering for students of Hispanic heritage. It validates their identity and shows them that their culture’s contributions to the world are valued and respected. This not only creates a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all students but also instills a sense of pride and belonging in students of Hispanic heritage.

3. Enhancing Engagement through Rhythm and Movement
One of the most exciting aspects of Hispanic music is its natural ability to get people moving! Whether it's a merengue's energetic steps or a flamenco dance's sweeping movements, Hispanic music is filled with rhythms that call for movement. Music and movement are a dynamic duo for young students that can keep them engaged and energized. Incorporating Hispanic rhythms and dances into the music classroom makes learning active and fun, allowing children to feel the beat in their bodies and hear it with their ears.

Dancing to a lively salsa beat or clapping along to the syncopated rhythms of a cumbia helps students internalize rhythm more interactively. It also makes learning more memorable, as students associate their musical experiences with the joy of movement.

As a native of South Texas and a community rich in Hispanic culture, I’ve noticed that celebrating Hispanic Heritage in the music classroom can help build bridges between home and school, especially for students from Hispanic backgrounds. When teachers introduce music that students might hear at home, such as traditional songs or popular Latin music, it connects their school experience to their family life. This connection fosters a sense of belonging and helps students feel seen and understood by their teachers.

Teachers can also encourage students to share their own experiences with Hispanic music. Perhaps a student’s family enjoys listening to a particular artist or attending community events with live music. Allowing students to share their stories and songs in the classroom gives them a voice and creates opportunities for cultural exchange.

Final Thoughts

Let’s not forget that celebrating Hispanic Heritage can be a whole lot of fun! Students love hands-on activities, and Hispanic culture offers plenty of opportunities to get creative. From making papel picado (colorful paper banners) to trying out basic salsa dance moves, these activities bring learning to life in a memorable way. By engaging students’ senses through music, art, dance, and food, Hispanic Heritage celebrations become both an educational and joyful experience. It's a chance for students to have fun while learning and for educators to create a lively, engaging classroom environment.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage in the music classroom is about more than just a lesson plan; it’s about creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where all students feel connected. It’s about helping kids learn to respect and value the differences that make our communities rich and colorful.

Lesson Plan: Elementary Music Lesson Inspired by Abuela by Arthur Dorros

Grade Level: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade  

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes  

Objectives:

1. Students will explore Latin American music, including rhythm and instruments.
2. Students will connect the cultural and musical elements of the book *Abuela* to musical activities.
3. Students will demonstrate creativity by participating in soundscape and movement activities inspired by the story.

Materials:

- Abuela by Arthur Dorros (book)

- Maracas, guiro, claves, and other Latin American percussion instruments

- Rhythm sticks or hand drums

- Audio clips of Latin American music (e.g., Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue)

- Large open space for movement

- Scarves or streamers for creative movement

- Chart paper or whiteboard for vocabulary

- Begin by briefly discussing the book *Abuela* by Arthur Dorros. Ask students what an "abuela" is (grandmother in Spanish). Explain that the story takes place in New York City and involves the main character and her abuela imagining they are flying over the city.

- Show students the book's cover and highlight notable elements (e.g., the Latin American influences in the setting, the flying scenes). Explain that today, they will explore music inspired by this story.

- Read *Abuela* aloud to the class, encouraging students to visualize the different scenes in the story. As you read, pause occasionally to ask students what they think it might sound like to fly over the busy streets of New York City or the waves of the harbor.

- Highlight cultural elements, such as the Spanish language, the sights and sounds of the city, and the imagery of flying.

- After the story, ask students: "What sounds do you imagine you would hear as you fly over the city with Abuela?" List the ideas on chart paper or a whiteboard. Encourage students to think of sounds like traffic, people talking, music, birds, and water.

- Explain that they will create a musical soundscape using instruments and their voices to represent the different scenes from the story.

- Divide the class into small groups and assign each group a specific scene from the book (e.g., flying over the park, the market, the harbor).

- Provide each group percussion instruments (e.g., maracas for the market, claves for the city streets, and rhythm sticks for the harbor).

Give students a few minutes to experiment with their instruments and devise a musical representation of their scene.

- Have each group perform their soundscape for the class while you reread their section of the story. Encourage the students to listen to how the different sounds blend.

- Introduce students to a simple Latin American dance rhythm, such as Salsa or Cumbia. Play a short audio clip of the rhythm and encourage students to clap along or tap their rhythm sticks to the beat. I suggest Putamayo World Music: Salsa Around the World

- Hand out scarves or streamers to each student. Explain that they will move like they are flying, just like in the story, while listening to the Latin American rhythm. Encourage students to use flowing movements and think about how they might move through the air like the characters.

- Play the music again and allow students to move freely around the room, using their scarves to express their interpretation of flying.

Gather the students back together and ask them to share their favorite part of the lesson. Ask questions like, "What did you enjoy about creating the soundscapes?" or "How did the music make you feel when you were moving?"

Discuss the cultural elements present in both the book and the music. Reinforce the connection between the story and the Latin American sounds and rhythms they explored during the lesson.

Click Here to watch and listen to Analisa Byrd read the book Abuela by Arthur Dorros