"Hispanics in the USA" is a program which provides schools with additional resources to teach 5th grade students about important contributions Hispanics have made to the U.S. Students are asked to complete an essay based on the readings.

• Hispanics in the USA is a program which provides schools with additional resources to teach 5th grade students about the important contributions Hispanics have made to the United States.
• The program includes a hardcover collection of biographies of fourteen Hispanics, student workbooks, and District-developed lesson plans.
• Copies of the book Hispanics in the U.S.A. Making History, by Dr. Arnhilda Badia, were sent to all elementary schools in September 2006. Copies of the book were provided for every fifth grader in the District. No additional copies are available.
• The lesson plans will help 5th grade teachers connect the contributions made by Hispanics to the District's character education core values; e.g.; responsibility, respect, fairness.
• The attached packet contains the lesson plans, writing prompt, scoring rubric, and a time line for implementation.
• As the program's culminating activity, students are asked to complete an essay based on the attached prompt. The essay should be completed as a class assignment and be based on the students' reflections after completing the lessons and reading the biographies.
• The essays are scored at the school using the Florida Writes! Grade 4 Scoring Rubric, with the top essay being forwarded to the Regional Center for final judging.
• To successfully implement the Hispanics in the USA program, schools must adhere to the time line included in this briefing as an attachement.