National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is a period from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Today we learned about Selena the American Texan Singer who is one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century.
We read the stories Queen of Tejano Music: Selena & The Life of - La Vida De Selena. After reading the stories we invited the children to build a stage that Selena could sing on just like she did at her concerts. In a tuff tray we provided red roses & petals, translucent blocks, and a plush doll of the singer. We also played her music as they created and explored.
Continuously reading stories that honor different cultures establishes an inclusive environment where every child can feel seen. The more we learn about all cultures in classrooms or our homes, the more knowledge and understanding we provide for everyone within our communities.
Exposure to other cultures stories brings personal meaning and awareness to the classroom or home. While children’s books open children’s eyes to differences, actual experiences such as this invitation can have a profound influence on helping children understand, respect similarities and differences, and comprehend the story. They begin to understand who they are in context of race, ethnic group, culture, religion, language and familial history. It provides a child with personally meaningful information and also introduces concepts from anthropology, culture, history, religion, geography, etc.
