Educator Resources
Looking for easy-to-follow classroom activities, book recommendations for your grade level, and suggested pre- and post- lesson plans connected to culturally relevant topics? We’ve got you covered!
Visit this page regularly for updated curriculum, lesson plans, and additional resources for your classroom!
Mi Los Ángeles Adventure Book – Educator Resource Packet
In our city and county of Los Ángeles, there are so many wonderful places to explore!
There is music to dance to, delicious food to eat, sports teams to cheer for, and lots of things to enjoy with family and friends. From the beach to the mountains, from the local park and library to your cozy living room, Los Ángeles is a place for adventures.
This activity is a bilingual (English/Spanish) book that students can assemble, color, and fill in with their own experiences and memories. This activity nurtures creativity, artistic expression, promotes bilingual literacy, and an appreciation for the rich cultural diversity of our city.
Click below to download an Educator Resource Packet and Template, designed to be easily adapted to your classroom!
Join our Educator Engagement Circle!
Sounds of the Eastside: Exploring Community History through Music
Saturday | October 4, 2025 | 9:30am – 1:30pm
Join LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes for an interactive event designed for K–12 educators interested in weaving music into their History/Social Science curriculum. Inspired by our current exhibition, “A Great Day in East LA: Celebrando the Eastside Sound,” this educator-exclusive event will introduce teachers to creative and culturally responsive strategies for utilizing music as a tool for student engagement, community building, and resilience. Connect with other educators and explore classroom practices that affirm and honor student identity, as you discover the transformative power of music.
Specialist-Led Workshops
- K-5 Grade: Music Pioneer, Manuela García, and My Story
Facilitated by Susie García; Musician, Educator, and Musical Director of Las Colibri
- 6-12 Grade: Boyle Heights and Me: Music and Identity
Facilitated by Roxana Dueñas; Ethnic Studies Specialist, MSTMA at Roosevelt High School
Curator-Led Tour
- Join guest curator, Dr. Jorge N. Leal for an immersive exploration of “A Great Day in East LA: Celebrando the Eastside Sound.”
- Dr. Jorge N. Leal is a cultural and urban historian whose research examines how transnational youth cultures have reshaped Southern California Latina/o/x communities in the late twentieth century. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism and history in addition to his master’s degree in history at California State University, Northridge. Dr. Leal went on to earn his doctorate in U.S. history at the University of California, San Diego.
- As a public historian, Dr. Leal has served as curator of the Boyle Heights Museum and LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles. The Rock Archivo LÁ, an online collective repository that collects, shares, and examines L.A. Latina/o/x youth cultures ephemera is also under his curatorship.
Music Performance
Los Cambalache (meaning ‘the exchange’ in Spanish) is a son jarocho group from East Los Angeles that plays a style of music that originated on the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Their music inspires the audience to participate in the spirit of the fandango. Led by Cesar Castro, Los Cambalache invite us to participate in the fandango cultural tradition and practice.
Other Activities
- Bring your teacher bestie and pose for a concert-inspired picture in the photobooth.
- Explore classic records in LA Plaza’s Sala.
- Participate in interactive music explorations and art activities.
- This event includes coffee, light breakfast items, and lunch.
Registration
Registration capacity is limited to
- 25 Elementary (K-5 Grade) Educators
- 25 Middles School and High School (6-12 Grade) Educators
To register, click on the grade level you teach below: