<p>This Learning Lab from the National Museum of the American Latino highlights the significance of tradition by exploring the Three Kings Day holiday. Latino communities in the United States continue these traditions.</p> <p>In this Learning Lab, after exploring different festive Latino Three Kings Day traditions, participants can engage with hands-on activities related to science and art. The idea behind the Three Kings Day Learning Kit is to reflect on the significance of tradition in Latino culture and emphasize the role individuals play in its preservation and evolution. The hands-on activities promote the museum’s idea that <em>latinidad</em> is diverse, dynamic, and inclusive – traditions live on through participation! </p>

<p>This bilingual publication highlights ten Latino patriots and spans the American War of Independence to the Vietnam War. The heroes presented are merely a small group of the thousands of Latinos who have served in our armed forces with distinction, many receiving honors for their service. The publication is meant to enhance awareness among all Americans of the positive contributions that the Latino community has made and continues to make to U.S. society.</p> <p>Originally published in 2007, this resource serve grades 7/8 and 9/10 social studies, U.S. History, AP Military History, Spanish Language courses and life-long learners. They include critical thinking, writing, language arts, visual arts, historical inquiry activities.  Each war era presents biographies and interesting facts on each of the patriots, a lesson plan for each era, two extension activities (one for 7/8th grade and one for 10/11th grade), and five handouts. Wars and topics covered include:</p> <ul><li>American War of Independence</li><li>Texas Revolution and the Mexican American War</li><li>Manifest Destiny</li><li>U.S. Expansionism</li><li>Civil War</li><li>World War I</li><li>World War II</li><li>Korean War</li><li>Vietnam War</li></ul> <p><br> Also included in the publication are teacher and student resources, as well as the listing of Latino Medal of Honor recipients. Please note that Captain Humbert “Rocky” Roque Versace, Jr. was erroneously omitted from this elite group of men at the time of printing (2008). Captain Versace was born on July 2, 1937. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and began his tour in Vietnam in May of 1962. During a mission in October 1963, he was taken Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong forces and was listed as Missing in Action. His fluency in English, French, and Vietnamese aided him during his capture. After more than two years, he was executed by his captors. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President George W. Bush on July 8, 2002, making him the first Army POW to receive the Medal of Honor. <br></p> <p></p>

<p>This learning kit from the National Museum of the American Latino highlights five important Latinos(as) who have worked for their local communities and are featured in the exhibition <a href="https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions/presente" target="_blank"><em>Presente! A Latino History of the United States</em>.</a> The learning kit provides an activity sheet and steps to create a community art piece. </p>

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Margaret Salazar-Porzio Talks About Sylvia Mendez: From Classrooms to History Books</strong>. </em>After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Sylvia Mendez has dedicated her life to bringing awareness of discrimination in schools. Her activism began as a young child attending school in Southern California. During the 1940s, her family joined others to fight for fair schooling for non-white children.</strong></p>

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Taína Caragol Talks About Luisa Capetillo: Breaking the Mold</strong>. </em>After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Luisa Capetillo was a feminist and a labor organizer. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Luisa Capetillo dared to dress as a man at a time when women were not wearing suits or even pants! It was her intellect that made her a fearless labor organizer.</strong></p>

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Ashley Mayor Talks About Graciela: The Power of Music</strong>. </em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Graciela helped popularize Mambo music during the 1950s in the New York City Latin music scene. Her unparalleled voice allowed the trailblazing Afro-Cubana to use music to break color lines and stereotypes.<br></strong></p>

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino's book <em><em>Cocuyo Lights the Way </em></em>created in collaboration with Capstone and written by Danielle Smith-Llera and illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno.<br></p> <p>In the summer of 1493, eleven-year-old Cocuyo is eager to find her place within her Taíno community on the island of Quisqueya. But in less than a year, her home, her family and friends, and her daily life will be forever changed by the arrival of Europeans. As Cocuyo learns more and more about the strangers who arrive by sea—and what they want from Quisqueya and its people—she looks for ways to help her community. At first, the Taíno try to befriend the strangers, but later they must protect themselves from invasion, disease, and enslavement. As the Taíno resist and survive, Cocuyo becomes determined to help preserve the culture that she loves. In diary format, the <em>Nuestras Voces</em> series profiles inspiring characters and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.</p> <p>This Learning Lab helps identify objects in the Smithsonian's collection that could be found in <em>Cocuyo Lights the Way</em><em>.</em> They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.</p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each Learning Lab includes a thinking routine. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions.<br><br></p> <p>For more information on the <em>Nuestras Voces </em>series, please visit www.latino.si.edu.</p>

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino's book <em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella </em></em>created in collaboration with Capstone and written by Vanessa Ramos and illustrated by Eugenia Nobati.<br></p> <p>Sixth grade is hard enough, but Mexican American Selena Estrella Herrera has to do it in a new town. Her family has moved to El Paso to help care for her grandfather (who seems not to want them there and insists on speaking only Spanish). One upside to being at a new school, though, is that she can finally leave behind her embarrassing obsession with musical megastar Selena—whom her parents named her after even though she can’t sing. She renames herself *Strella, avoids her grouchy grandfather, and tries to move on with her life. Then *Strella starts a National History Day project. The topic her team chooses? Selena. Can *Strella embrace her Tejano heritage and her old love of Selena and still become her own person? And will she ever discover what her own gifts are? In diary format, the <em>Nuestras Voces</em> series profiles inspiring characters from yesterday and today, and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.</p> <p>This Learning Lab helps identify objects in the Smithsonian's collection that could be found in <em><em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella</em></em>.</em> They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.</p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each Learning Lab includes a thinking routine. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions.<br><br></p> <p>For more information on the <em>Nuestras Voces </em>series, please visit www.latino.si.edu.<br></p>

<p>This learning lab collection explores the origins and history of the Cuetlaxóchitl (phonetic spelling cuet-lax-o-chitl) plant. Find out interesting facts about the plant that we have all come to know as the Christmas plant. Discover the legend behind the plant and the science behind the magical color. Then, try your handicraft skills out and make your own poinsettia plant using materials found at home or in the classroom. The learning lab includes additional resources and videos to continue exploring. </p>

<p><em>El Día de los Muertos</em> or Day of the Dead is a celebration to honor and commemorate the cycle of life and the lives of the recently departed. This Pre-Columbian celebration has been observed in Mexico since before the arrival of the Spanish. Although many cultures see death as a cause for sadness rather than celebration, the cultures that observe el <em>Día de los Muertos</em> view death as a part of life. This is also a special celebration among some Native American and Mexican American communities in the United States.</p> <p>The National Museum of the American Latino has created this resource as a guide to learn more about the Day of the Dead. Use this Learning Lab as a starting off point to celebrate with your community, family, and/or students. Our on-line learning kit includes general information and the history of the tradition. Smithsonian collections, video resources, music, and hands-on activities for in-school or at-home learning are also included.</p> <p><br>This Learning Lab collection also includes links to a special exhibit and mural gallery on the Healing Uvalde Mural Project from Texas. <br><br><br></p>

<p>This bilingual resource serves middle and high school teachers and students as well as lifelong learners. </p><p><i>Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement</i> explores the diversity of the Latino experience in its portrayal of a group of extraordinary men and women and the stories they tell. Like the exhibition, this companion book combines personal narratives, portraits, and <i>dichos</i>, or traditional sayings, to provide an inspirational, illustrated anthology of Latino accomplishments across generations.</p> <p>People of all ages and backgrounds will be engaged by these inspirational stories and portraits of Latinos who have made significant contributions to American life. By telling the stories of leaders in the Latino community who display outstanding character traits, such as dedication, discipline, perseverance, integrity, passion, responsibility, courage, and commitment, this anthology provides multiple views of achievement that will motivate many other Americans to realize their own dreams.</p><p>Este recurso bilingüe sirve a estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria (high school) y a aprendices de todas edades.</p><p><i>Nuestros Caminos/Nuestras Historias: Retratos del Logro Latino </i>explora la diversidad de la vivencia latina al presentar de un grupo de hombres y mujeres extraordinarios y las historias que ellos nos cuentan. Así como la exhibición, esta publicación complementaria combina anécdotas personales, retratos y relatos orales tradicionales para ofrecer una antología ilustrada de inspiración sobre los logros de los latinos a través de distintas generaciones.</p> <p>Personas de todas las edades y orígenes se sentirán atraídas por estas historias y retratos de latinos que contribuyeron de manera significativa a la vida estadounidense. Al contar la historia de los líderes de la comunidad latina que demuestran características sobresalientes como dedicación, disciplina, perseverancia, integridad, pasión, responsabilidad, valor y compromiso, esta antología ofrece múltiples facetas del logro que motivará a muchos otros estadounidenses a materializar sus propios sueños. </p>

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Sylvia Rivera: Pushing Boundaries.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p>Sylvia Rivera was a transgender woman living in New York City during the '60s and '70s. She became a fierce defender of LGBTQ+ rights, pushing the movement in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots to vigilantly protect transgender people's rights.</p>