Adalberto Elías González
Adalberto Elías González was an important part of the Golden Age of Mexican Film. His contributions extended beyond his acting roles, and made significant contributions as a play write. His contributions help tell the story of the importance who tells our stories. Teachers can use this classroom material to engage students with the idea that a peoples story, should be told from within. Teachers are free use these materials at their pleasure. Teacher guides are available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Antonio Aguilar
Antonio Aguilar, an early icon in the genre of Ranchera music. Teachers can use this classroom material to engage students with the idea that culture is more than what comes out of the cosmopolitan center. Aguilar stressed family and homeland. Teachers may use these materials at their pleasure. Teacher guides are available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Becky G
Identity, Belonging, and the Power of Knowing Where We Come From
This 9th-grade Chicanx Studies and Ethnic Studies reader uses Becky G’s family story and musical journey to explore cultural identity, belonging, representation, cultural continuity, and lifelong learning. Students examine how family traditions and cultural connections can shape identity, what can happen when individuals do not feel represented or included within institutions, and how education and cultural knowledge can empower individuals and communities.
The reader incorporates the perspectives of Mario T. García, Carlos Fuentes, Paulo Freire, and Piri Thomas and includes discussion questions and key vocabulary.
Teachers: A complete Teacher Edition with suggested answers and discussion guidance is available on TeachersPayTeachers.
CaCao Mexicatessen
Created on June 5, 2026
These materials were created to help teachers engage students with the idea that culinary arts are an important part of promoting and protecting cultural our cultural traditions.
The Caesar Salad: Chemistry, Culture, and Innovation
This classroom reader uses the story of the Caesar Salad and its development in 1920s Tijuana to explore the connections between science and culture. Students examine the chemistry behind emulsification and the interaction of ingredients while also investigating how culinary traditions, migration, cultural exchange, and changing circumstances contributed to the creation of something new.
Through the Caesar Salad, students discover that innovation does not occur in isolation. Knowledge passed down through generations can combine with new environments, challenges, and opportunities to produce cultural creations that can travel far beyond their place of origin.
A complete Teacher Edition with suggested answers and discussion guidance is available on TeachersPayTeachers.
Carlos Gardel
Updated May 10, 2026
This classroom activity was developed in alignment with the articles in Capacitando.org on Carlos Gardel. Please access our page on Musical Traditions for a long form article, and the blog post for a comparison between him and Facundo Cabral.
Celia Cruz
Celebrate the life and legacy of Celia Cruz, the legendary “Queen of Salsa,” with our newest classroom reader. Students will explore her remarkable musical career, the impact of the Cuban Revolution on her life, and her lasting influence on Latino culture and history. The student version is available as a free download on Capacitando.org, while the complete teacher edition, featuring suggested answers, instructional connections, and additional classroom resources, is available through our Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Cheech Marin
This classroom activity was developed in alignment with the articles in Capacitando.org on Cheech Marin. Instructors can download the set of questions here and use the reading materials provided by clicking on the buttons below.
Desi Arnaz
This classroom activity was developed in alignment with the articles in Capacitando.org on Desi Arnaz. Instructors can download the set of questions here and use the reading materials provided by clicking on the buttons below. These materials are free for instructors, and they are encouraged to use as they see fit.
Desi Arnaz & Rita Moreno: comparing two icons
This material was prepared for teachers to utilize with students as they engage in a discussion of the challenges and accomplishments of these two icons of the U.S. based Hispano community.
Felipe Agredano
The following activities are designed for Ethnic or Chicanx Studies courses at the high school level. The discussion questions may be used by educators to engage in discussion with students on the role of religion in modern Chicanx communities, the role of education and agency in a variety of social spaces, and the importance of equity and social justice throughout our communities. Teachers may download this set of questions in English or Spanish and use freely. The questions are designed to be used after accessing the article on Felipe Agredano on Members Portfolio – Academics.
J Balvin or Rauw Alejandro
This classroom reader explores the careers of J Balvin and Rauw Alejandro through the lens of culture, identity, and Latino representation in contemporary music. Designed for secondary-level Chicanx Studies and Ethnic Studies courses, it can be used as a standalone reading, discussion starter, or supplement to lessons on culture and identity. We invite educators to download and use this resource whenever it fits their curriculum needs. If you find these materials valuable, please help us expand their impact by sharing Capacitando.org with colleagues and encouraging other teachers to explore and use our free educational resources.
José Alfredo Jiménez or Javier Solís
This classroom material was created to explore the cultural contributions of José Alfredo Jiménez and Javier Solís in the area of Ranchera music. Educators are free to download and use these materials as they see fit. These materials are available in both English and Spanish. A teachers editions are available in English and Spanish on teacherspayteachers.
José Martí: Revolution, Exile, and “Our America”
Help students explore the life and ideas of José Martí through a historical narrative that follows his journey from political prisoner in colonial Cuba to writer, educator, and revolutionary thinker. Students examine how Martí’s experiences in Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, and the United States shaped his understanding of freedom, independence, identity, racial and cultural diversity, and the future of Hispano America.
The accompanying discussion questions invite students to move beyond Martí’s biography and consider a larger essential question: What does it take for a people to be truly free and independent? A teacher guide with suggested responses provides historical context and supports meaningful classroom discussion.
Access the Teachers Guide on TeachersPayTeachers
Julieta Vanegas
This classroom material was created to explore the career and cultural contributions of Julieta Vanegas. Educators are free to download and use these materials as they see fit. These materials are available in both English and Spanish. A teachers edition is being developed and will soon be available on Teachers Pay Teachers. Teachers may access other materials by accessing the following buttons.
Lin-Manuel Miranda
This classroom resource, produced in both English and Spanish, provides students with a brief introduction to the work of Lin-Manuel Miranda. This work helps students explore the cultural contributions of this award-winning actor, composer, director, producer, and writer. Discussion questions for the classroom are included. A teachers edition with suggested answers and standards alignment are provided on teacherspayteachers. Capacitando members can download free student versions here.
Maradona or Messi
This resource, produced in both English and Spanish, provides students with a brief introduction to these two icons of the athletics world. This educational material offers teachers a tool that helps students explore the cultural phenomenon that is fútbol in Argentina. Discussion questions for the classroom are included. A teachers edition with suggested answers and standards alignment are provided on teacherspayteachers. Student versions are available here for download for Capacitando Members.
Piri Thomas
This classroom resource uses Piri Thomas’s Down These Mean Streets to explore identity, race, colorism, poverty, and the challenges faced by Afro-Latino communities. Students examine Thomas’s journey of self-discovery within the larger context of the Civil Rights Movement and the growth of Puerto Rican activism during the 1960s. The reading encourages students to consider how historical conditions and societal expectations can shape individual identity while recognizing the diverse African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences within Puerto Rican and Latino history. An essential question and Bloom’s Taxonomy-based discussion questions guide students toward analysis, reflection, and connections to their own understanding of identity and belonging.
Download the student editions here for free. Purchase the teacher editions with suggested discussion question responses by clicking the button for TeachersPayTeachers.com.
Pitbull or Bad Bunny
This resource, produced both in English and Spanish provides students with a brief introduction to these two influential musical icons. This short article can serve as an entry into a short research project where students can conduct their own internet searches regarding their musicianship, cultural impact, and their efforts to improve their communities. There are classroom discussion questions provided at the end of the document.
Raquel Welch
These educational resources were developed in alignment with the materials on Capacitando.org highlighting the cultural contributions of Raquel Welch. Those digital materials can be accessed by clicking on the following buttons. These classroom ready materials are PDF versions of the article with class discussion questions attached at the end. Please use with your students as you see fit.
Rauw Alejandro
The following documents are designed as classroom materials with a focus on Rauw Alejandro’s music and cultural impact with a focus on how his experience is situated within the historical context of Puerto Rico’s colonial status within an imperial United States system.
Ricardo Montalbán
Explore the life and legacy of Ricardo Montalbán through a classroom reader and inquiry-based discussions on identity, migration, representation, and the power of storytelling. Designed for Chicanx Studies, this resource also works well in Ethnic Studies, Media Studies, and Performing Arts classrooms.
Drama teachers can use these materials to help students build a cultural and historical foundation for understanding the stories and characters they engage. Students are invited to connect Montalbán’s experiences with today’s entertainment industry and consider: Who gets to tell our stories—and who shapes how our communities are seen?
Members can download for free the student version here. Visit TeachersPayTeachers to purchase the teachers version with suggested answers to the discussion questions.
Rocío Dúrcla or Ana Gabriel
This resource was designed for Ethnic Studies, Chicanx Studies, or Choir students to engage material that deepen their understanding of the impact of Rocío Dúrcal and Ana Gabriel on the Hispano/Latino/Chicanx community. These materials are provided in both English and Spanish. Teachers are welcome to use these materials as they see fit. Teacher discussion guides are provided on the website Teachers Pay Teachers.
Sandra Cisneros
This resource is designed for Chicanx Studies, but will work well in a literature or Spanish Language courses, as well as Ethnic Studies. This short read is designed for 9th grade readers to explore the cultural contributions and challenges of Sandra Cisneros. The article is followed by discussion questions which will serve to develop oral language and social interaction. The resource is available in both English and Spanish, and provides a bibliography for reference. Teachers are encouraged to use as they see fit for the students they serve.
Santana or Selena
This classroom resource uses the careers of music icons Carlos Santana and Selena to help students explore cultural identity, immigration, perseverance, representation, and barriers within the music industry. Designed for Ethnic Studies courses, the reading includes standards-aligned discussion questions and a teacher answer key (available on teacherspayteachers) that encourage students to connect the artists’ experiences to broader themes of culture, community, and achievement. The source may also be used in other courses, such as Music, ELA, U.S. History, Chicana/o Studies as well as Spanish Language courses.
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
The following resources are provided to help teachers engage their classes in an exploration of the impact of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz who was possibly the first Feminist in the Americas. Teachers should note that their are some discussion questions at the end of the document (provided in English and Spanish) which can be used as the teacher sees fit.
Vicente Fernandez
Vicente Fernandez, an icon of Ranchera music, he built his career on tradition and found much success. Teachers can use this classroom material to engage students with the idea that a successful career can be developed without sacrificing a nations culture and tradition. Teachers may use these materials at their pleasure. Teacher guides are available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Yesenia Ramirez
Food, Culture, and Community: The Story of Yesenia Ramirez explores the journey of a Mexican-born culinary entrepreneur and owner of Andy’s Coffee Shop in Pasadena. Students examine how migration, culinary traditions, entrepreneurship, and community come together as Yesenia blends the traditions of a classic U.S. diner with Mexican cuisine. The reader includes an essential question, and discussion questions. Teacher-suggested responses will be available on TeachersPayTeachers soon.