Education Resources to Help Celebrate our Diverse Cultures
National Hispanic Heritage Month | mid-September to mid-October
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Looking for ideas on how you can share this month with your family?
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Support a Hispanic or Latinx-owned business!
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Feeling crafty? Check out these fun project ideas.
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Play a game of lotería (Mexican bingo) or dominoes (a popular pastime for many of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican heritage).
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Listen to or make a playlist of Hispanic artists.
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Explore books by Hispanic and Latinx authors.
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Read about how Hispanic and Latinx Americans have shaped our national parks for hundreds of years.
Rosh Hashanah | September or October
Shana Tovah! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is one of the most significant days in Judaism. Meaning “beginning of the year,” the festival begins in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October. It is a two-day observance and celebration. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement.
Customs include sounding the shofar (a ram’s horn that doubles as a wind instrument) and enjoying festive meals with family and friends. Eating symbolic foods is part of the tradition, such as apples dipped in honey, hoping to evoke a sweet new year, and round challah bread, symbolizing the cycle of the year. If you’d like to share more about Rosh Hashanah with your family, check out these books: Is It Rosh Hashanah Yet?, Sammy Spider’s First Rosh Hashanah, and A Moon for Moe and Mo.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day | 2nd Monday in October
The second Monday in October is celebrated throughout the United States as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This day is meant to honor our first people, the Native Americans. With 574 tribes recognized by the U.S. government and another 300-plus sovereign tribal nations, there are many ways to observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, including an acknowledgment for the land we live on. Did you know that the original inhabitants of the land on which Central and Arroyo sits were the Ramaytush Ohlone people? Ancestors of the Ohlone lived in villages along freshwater creeks on the Peninsula for more than 10,000 years. The Lamchin tribe of the Ramaytush Ohlone lived in the area that is now called San Carlos.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Central and Arroyo sit on the ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone who are the original peoples of the San Francisco Peninsula. We honor the Ohlone and other Indigenous caretakers of these lands and waters, the elders who lived here before, the Indigenous today, and the generations to come.
You may choose to share this with your family or write your own. Some resources about the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original people of the San Francisco Peninsula, can be found on the website of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone. We look forward to learning and honoring Native American history more next month for Native American Heritage Month.
Diwali | 5 days from mid-October to mid-November
Each year between mid-October and mid-November, the festival of Diwali is celebrated across the Indian subcontinent over five days. The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dīpāvali, meaning “row of lights.” Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings.
In the lead-up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating, and decorating their homes and workplaces with diyas (oil lamps) and rangoli (colorful art circle patterns). During Diwali, people wear their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas and rangoli, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared.
If your Eagle is looking to learn more about Diwali at home, here are some ideas:
- Try making a Diwali sweet or savory snack.
- Get crafty and make a Diwali decoration.
- Safely place tealight candles (as diyas) by the door.
- Explore books about Diwali.
Día de los Muertos | Nov. 1-2
Día de los Muertos is Nov. 1-2
Also known as the Day of the Dead, El Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico but is celebrated throughout the world, especially by people of Mexican heritage. It is a holiday of joyful celebration and remembrance. The multiday holiday involves gathering with friends and family to pay respect to loved ones who have passed. These celebrations can take on a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about their loved ones.
Traditions connected with the holiday include using calaveras (sugar skulls) and Aztec marigold flowers as decorations, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite food and drink of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts. It is also common to give gifts to friends such as candy sugar skulls, share pan de muerto, and write lighthearted and often irreverent verses dedicated to living friends and acquaintances. To learn more about this holiday, check out this article.
If you’re looking to learn more about this holiday, you could:
- Check out the Día de los Muertos celebration in downtown Redwood City on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 3:30-8:30 p.m. [newsletter editor: look for updated date, times, and link for other years]
- Explore one of these books
- Make a paper marigold or another decoration
- Build your own ofrenda
- Watch Coco or The Book of Life
Native American Heritage Month | November
The Ohlone were hunters and gatherers. They found many uses for the resources of the region, such as plants that provided materials for shelter and clothing.
November Is Native American Heritage Month
November is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the significant contributions of Native people. Below are some ways you and your family can observe Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving).
Discover more about the Ramaytush Ohlone, the tribe that is indigenous to the Peninsula, here.
Explore Native Land Digital, an interactive map that allows you to identify which tribes live or lived in regions around the world.
Visit a museum or another local spot to learn more about the local Indigenous people.
- The San Mateo History Museum in downtown Redwood City has a fantastic display of local Native American history and artifacts (source of image of the Ohlone above).
- The visitor center at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont has a display of Ohlone artifacts and celebrations.
Read about the contributions that Native Americans have made and are still making today. Did you know, for example, that lacrosse has roots in the popular Indigenous North American game of stickball?
Share a book about Native American culture.
Check out these resources for talking to kids about Thanksgiving:
Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day | November 14*
Let’s Walk Together in Honor of Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges rose to fame as a 6-year-old when she became the first African-American to integrate an elementary school in the South on Nov. 14, 1960. Ruby (pictured) is now XX years old, and every November, communities across the country walk to school together to honor her bravery.
The PTA invites our students and their families to join us in walking together to school as a community:
When: Day, Date, 8:10 a.m.
Where: Corner of Brittan Ave. and Cedar St., at the bleachers.
What: Ruby Bridges bracelets, buttons and stickers will be handed out to participants. First come, first served. Students will have the opportunity to make signs to carry with them and are encouraged to bring them on the walk. We will begin walking to Arroyo and Central together by 8:20 a.m.
Volunteer Opportunity: We could use help passing out bracelets, buttons and stickers that morning. If you have a few minutes to help, it would be greatly appreciated! Sign up XYZ LINK HERE.
* If the November Walk to School date conflicts with Outdoor Ed, Arroyo observes this day in February, during Black History Month.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 3rd Monday of January
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
On the third Monday of January, we honor the achievements of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 1960s. Known for his advocacy of nonviolent actions to end racial segregation, King rose to national prominence during the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. He then led the 1963 March on Washington, which culminated in his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. His actions were instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He was tragically assassinated on April 4, 1968.
If you’re looking for a way to talk to your family about King and his legacy, here are a few ideas:
Read about his life and what he stood for:
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I Am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer
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I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr., illustrated by Kadir Nelson
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Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.? by Bonnie Bader and Elizabeth Wolf
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All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Share his “I Have a Dream” speech and ask your children what it means to have a dream and how they can achieve theirs. Kids can even make their own speech lectern for MLK.
Try a simple craft, like a peace sign or peace dove to hang in a window.
Watch a video about the life of MLK with your kids.
Lunar New Year | between late January and late February
Lunar New Year Begins Jan. 29 [Editor: Update date as needed]
Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, Tibetan Losar, also called Spring Festival, is a holiday typically celebrated in China and other East Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later.
Traditionally, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are reserved for family celebrations, including ceremonies honoring ancestors. Also on New Year’s Day, family members receive red envelopes (hong bao or lai see) containing money. Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays.
The origins of the Lunar New Year festival are thousands of years old and are steeped in legends. One Chinese legend is that of Nian, a beast believed to terrorize the villages on New Year’s Day. Because Nian feared the color red, loud noises, and fire, red paper decorations were pasted to doors, lanterns were lit all night, and firecrackers were set off to frighten the beast away. Today, popular traditions still include red decorations, lanterns, lion dances and firecrackers.
Here are a few ways to learn more about Lunar New Year with your family:
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Read a story (or two) with them.
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Watch a video about the legend of Nian or other facts about Lunar New Year. Learn about the Chinese Zodiac.
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Listen to author Grace Lin read her short story The Legend of the Fortune Gods.
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Attend a local Lunar New Year event in San Carlos, Redwood City, San Mateo, or San Francisco. [Editor: Update as needed]
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Make a new year’s dish or check out these sites for inspiration: woonheng.com, maangchi.com, thewoksoflife.com.
Black History Month | February
Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and recognize their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. Click here for more on how Black History Month began.
Here are ideas for diving deeper into Black history with your family:
- Share a book celebrating Black history with your child.
- Create a portrait of MLK Jr. or do a directed draw of Rosa Parks (pictured).
- Learn about Black scientists such as Katharine Johnson and Mae Jemison.
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Are your kids getting ready for baseball season? Watch this read-aloud about Jackie Robinson.
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Watch Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem “The Hill We Climb”.
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Consider attending an event celebrating Black history in the Bay Area. [Editor: update]
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Watch Disney/Pixar’s Oscar-winning film “Soul” starring Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey and explore the history of jazz (recommended for older kids).
Women’s History Month | March
Women’s History Month is a time to honor women’s contributions in American History. It grew out of a one-week celebration started in 1978 by the school district of Sonoma, California, and slowly spread across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 as Women’s History Week, and in 1987 it was expanded to a month. Find more information here. Ideas for diving a little deeper into women’s history with your family:
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Explore Women’s History on BrainPOP, which offers free movies, texts, games and lessons on famous women in history.
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Visit the National Women’s History Museum website.
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Share a book about one of many amazing women from history.
Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr | March ('24-'25), February ('26-'27), January ('28-30)
For newsletter editor: See this page for start dates of Ramadan through 2034
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and lasts 29 or 30 days, depending on when the new crescent moon is, or should be, visible. This year, Ramadan began Feb. 17 and is expected to end around March 18. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, reflection, and community.
Participating Muslims who are old enough and healthy enough to fast do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset each day. Once the sun sets, family and friends gather for a meal called iftar. Fasting is intended to strengthen willpower and increase empathy for those who have less; it is also intended to encourage care with words and actions. In addition to fasting, giving to charity and doing good deeds are a special part of Ramadan and done throughout this holy month. Families donate money, food, and clothing to those in need and are encouraged to give throughout the year.
After Ramadan, families celebrate Eid al-Fitr (“the feast of breaking the fast”), which is a joyous event with elaborate meals, monetary gifts in envelopes for children (called Eidi), and time spent with family and friends!
To learn more about Ramadan and Eid, check out some of these books:
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Lailah’s Lunchbox by Reem Faruqi
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The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard
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The Night Before Eid by Aya Khalil
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Ramadan by Hannah Elliot
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Ramadan Around the World by Ndaa Hassan
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It’s Ramadan Curious George by H.E. Rey and Hena Khan
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Under the Ramadan Moon by Sylvia Whitman
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Fasting and Dates by Jonny Zucker
- Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi
- Nadia Islam, On the Record by Adiba Jaigirdar
- Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata
- Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices, edited by S.K. Ali and Aisha Saeed
- Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian
- Salaam, With Love by Sara Sharaf Beg
Nowruz, Persian New Year | late March
Nowruz Is March XX
Nowruz (Persian: نوروز, pronounced [nowˈɾuːz], literally “new day”) is the Persian term for the day of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year. It begins on the spring equinox and is celebrated worldwide by more than 300 million people from various ethnolinguistic groups. The 3,000-year-old tradition is popular in the Middle East, the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, Central Asia and beyond. Hundreds of U.S. communities celebrate Nowruz, too. Los Angeles, home to one of the largest Persian populations outside Iran, hosts the biggest Nowruz festival in the country.
Nowruz is a largely secular holiday, meant to wish people prosperity for the new year and welcome in the future while shedding the past. Some families deep-clean their homes and closets and buy fresh clothing. It’s a month-long celebration filled with parties, craft making, street performances, and public rituals. To learn more about this holiday, check out these kids’ books:
- The New Year’s Goldfish
- Niko’s Nifty Nowruz
- Norooz A Celebration of Spring! The Persian New Year
- Soraya’s Nowruz Dance
You could also share a read-aloud of Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story along with this video about a Haftseen (which means “the seven S’s”), a traditional table of symbolic items. Eid e shoma mobarak!
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month | May
May Is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent — including East, Southeast, and South Asia — and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Learn more about the origins this month and why it is celebrated here.
Here are ideas for learning more about AANHPI culture and history with your family:
- Share a story written by an Asian author, featuring an Asian character or illustrated by an Asian artist with your child. There are many fantastic titles available. Kids can also explore books on Epic.
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On Instagram, follow @asianlitforkids for fantastic suggestions year-round or take a look at this reel by author Joanna Ho.
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Watch “What These Asian American Families Love About Their Culture” for a glimpse into several different families’ experiences with their culture and traditions and what they hope to pass along to the next generation.
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Plan a movie night! Ideas include Over the Moon, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, Big Hero 6, and Turning Red.
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Draw the red panda character Mei Lee from Pixar’s Turning Red.
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As the nation’s storyteller, the National Park Service strives to tell the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders preserved in our nation’s parks, memorials, and historic sites, including Hakone Estate and Gardens (pictured) near San Jose.
Jewish American Heritage Month | May
May Is Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to explore the rich and varied contributions Jewish Americans have made to our nation’s history, culture, science, arts, and public life. Hundreds of organizations and Americans of all backgrounds join together each May to discover and celebrate the vibrant Jewish American experience, from the dawn of our nation to the present day.
Middle grade students can learn about author Judy Blume, whose story opens up conversations about free speech and emotional intelligence. For older students, figures like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and disability rights activist Judith Heumann offer powerful lessons in pursuing justice and championing human rights. Visit jewishamericanheritage.com to learn about Jewish arts and culture, Jewish women, Asian American Jews, Latin Jewish voices, and much more.
Pride Month | June
Pride Month occurs in June in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, which occurred in June 1969 in response to police raids on gay and lesbian bars. The uprising inspired a generation of activists and helped form a civil rights movement to fight homophobia. Pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community. Pride Month was federally recognized by President Bill Clinton in 1999. President Joe Biden declared June LGBTQ+ Pride Month in 2021.
Pride events can range from solemn to carnivalesque: Parades, street festivals, poetry readings, public speaking, and educational sessions. A common symbol of Pride is the rainbow flag, devised by artist Gilbert Baker to represent the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. The progress pride flag, created in 2018 by artist Daniel Quasar, adds white, pink, light blue, brown, and black to recognize transgender people and people of color.
Below are some books as well as links to articles, art projects, and local Pride events.
Picture Books
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
- Grandad’s Pride by Harry Woodgate
- Hoʻonani: Hula Warrior by Heather Gale
- Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. by Rob Sanders
Middle Grade Books
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The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
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Melissa by Alex Gino
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Snapdragon by Kat Leyh
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Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
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The Witch Boy by Molly Ostertag
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Nikhil Out Loud by Maulik Pancholy
Resources and Activities
- 9 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month with Your Kids by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, including a coloring sheet.
- Check out the city of San Carlos’ Pride in the Park celebration at Burton Park.
- Consider attending the world famous San Francisco Pride Parade.