Hispanic Heritage Month Films & Lesson Ideas for Schools

Bring Hispanic Heritage Month into the Classroom

Hispanic Heritage Month, observed Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, gives schools an opportunity to explore the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in ways students can see, discuss and remember.

Film can help make those connections tangible. In the classroom, teachers can use movies, documentaries and educational series to build background knowledge, strengthen analysis and introduce perspectives connected to curriculum. Below, find our top ideas for incorporating video into lessons for Hispanic Heritage Month:

Elementary School:

• Encanto – Explore family roles, traditions, identity and the ways communities shape a sense of belonging.
• Coco – Introduce traditions connected to Dia de los Muertos and invite students to compare how families remember and honor loved ones.
• Dora and the Lost City of Gold – Explore cultural heritage, mythology, family connections and problem-solving as Dora and her friends rely on teamwork and perseverance during their adventure.
• Vivo – Use music, setting and character relationships to explore cultural expression and how stories travel across communities.

Lesson Idea: After viewing a selected scene, students identify a tradition represented in the film, then compare it with a tradition from their own family or community. Younger students can respond through drawing while older elementary students can write a short reflection.

Middle School:

• McFarland, USA – Explore community, perseverance, economic opportunity and the role culture can play in shaping identity.
• Selena – Explore cultural identity, representation, music and the experience of navigating more than one cultural world.
• Our America: Todos Unidos – Identify how each featured person connects cultural heritage with civic or community action.
• Spare Parts – Connect STEM, teamwork and perseverance to the experiences of Latinx students competing in a national robotics competition.

Lesson Idea: Have students analyze a selected scene for what it reveals about a character’s community, opportunities and challenges. Students can cite visual and dialogue evidence, then discuss how context influences choices.

High School:

• Stand and Deliver – Explore educational equity, cultural identity, perseverance and high expectations through the experiences of a dedicated teacher and his East Los Angeles students.
• In the Heights – Analyze community, identity, ambition and belonging through music, character and neighborhood storytelling.
• Habla Now – Launch a writing activity on how activism responds to discrimination and how media can shape public understanding of Latinx experiences.
• Cesar Chavez – Connect labor history, civic engagement and organizing to broader lessons about social change and workers’ rights.

Lesson Idea: Ask students to examine how one film represents Hispanic or Latinx identity. What perspectives are centered? What assumptions are challenged? Students can compare the film with a primary source, article or historical account and evaluate how medium shapes understanding.

Bring Hispanic and Latinx Stories Into the Classroom

Want more lesson ideas? The Swank Educational Streaming platform includes lesson guides and key scene resources for top Hispanic Heritage content, including “Selena,” “Encanto” and more. Get a demo today to see how streaming can impact your classroom.

Turn Hispanic Heritage Month Into a School Community Event