Raise a Flag: Kids' Activities for Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month celebrates peoples from Latin America including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. In celebration, we've put together two fun home activities related to maps for kids.
Mix and Match Flags
Flags are representations of a group of people's journey, background and often share the same colors because of brotherhood or solidarity. This means that if countries believed in the same causes they would often share the same colors or similar designs. Do you recognize any of these world flags? Use a pencil to match the country to the flag. (Jump below for the answers.)
Here is an English-language version. Find versions in eight additional languages below.
Create a Flag
Many flags have different meanings and symbols, some use stars to represent positivity and others specific colors to represent the geographies of their countries. Flags are a form of representation of a place, culture, group, or identity. If you were to design your own flag, what would you add? What represents you? Perhaps it may contain your favorite colors? Maybe your favorite foods? Maybe something or someone you truly care about? Use the worksheet below to continue these activities or simply try them out at home with paper and your favorite art materials.
Here is an English-language version. Find versions in eight additional languages below.
Download worksheets for both activities in:
Keep the inspiration going!
Check out these titles that celebrate identity and community.
Flying Colors: A Guide To Flags from Around the World
by Robert G. Fresson
Ever wondered why the American flag is red, white and blue? or how it is that flags ever came to be? Let this title be your guide.
Dear Primo: A Letter To My Cousin
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Charlie and Carlitos are primos cousins, one is in an American city and on is the country side of Mexico. The city and the country has some differences, but check out this title to see what stays the same.
Islandborn
by Junot Díaz; illustrated by Leo Espinosa
Lola goes to a school where everyone is from someone else and remembers their old homeland. When she is given a homework assignment where she has to describe where she came from she goes through a journey of rediscovery by talking to her neighbors.
Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage
by Tracey Kyle; illustrated by Mirelle Ortega
Join Mexican American Pepe as he gets ready for his first Hispanic Heritage Parade, during his preparation he sees his friends, Ecuadorian, Panamanian and more all join the fun.
If Dominican Were a Color
by Sili Recio; illustrated by Brianna McCarthy
This poetic story using references the bright sun and the green tints of the plants to represent the colorful people of Dominican Republic.
Coquí in the City
by Nomar Perez; illustrated by Almarie Guerra
Miguel loves baseball and his coquí, when he moves to the United States he finds himself missing his home of Puerto Rico. A story of new beginnings and change.
Where Are You From?
by Yamile Saied Méndez; illustrated by Jaime Kim
"Where are you from?, no where are you really from?" is a sentiment heard by many Americans who do not fit the questioners mold. Follow this little girl as she innocently look for an answer that may not be so simple.
Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Alma has a very long name, in a her opinion too long. One day she questions her father and comes to learn the beautiful history behind it all.
Plátanos Go With Everything
by Lissette Norman; illustrated by Sara Palacios
While cooking with her mother a little girl asks why do Dominicans love plátanos so much? They then go into a poetic story of family, symbolism and community.
Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land
by Mirelle Ortega
Growing up on a pineapple farm in Mexico, a girl discovers the true meaning of the word magic in this picture book about change and transformation of all kinds—what we can’t control, such as natural disasters and loss, and what we can.
