ESB-MACC Education Department
Our Mission
The Education Department within the Emma S. Barrientos - Mexican American Cultural Center seeks to provide dynamic, innovative, and socially relevant educational programming that preserves, creates, and promotes Mexican American and Latinx cultural arts and heritage.
The ESB MACC Education department can provide fun art activities and outreach tables, contact us for more information! Email macceducation@austintexas.gov.
Read more about the ESB MACC's Educational Program Offerings below.
Summer Camp
We host Summer Camps annually. Financial aid is available- please email macceducation@austintexas.gov. Apply for financial aid in October-November-December 2026, and once the financial aid is on your account, you can register for Summer Camp in January-February 2027, for Summer 2027.
More About Financial Aid
Coming up in October!
Sabados en Familia
MACC EDU Presents: A Sabados en Familia production in collaboration with Mexamericon
Saturday, October 31st, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Calling All Heroes! "Latine Superheroes Throughout History" (What's our origin story?) With a special appearance by Blue Beetle and Friends!
Capes up, Austin! The Mexican American Cultural Center Education Department is bringing the POW to your day with a celebration of Latine superheroes through history!
Get ready to dive into the colorful world of comic book culture and discover how these larger-than-life heroes were born out of necessity. When the stories you needed weren't on the page, creators stepped up and made their own. Now that's some real superpower!
Here's what you can expect:
Meet the Heroes: This presentation will explore the bold, brilliant, and unforgettable Latine characters who changed the game and made their mark on comic book history.
Story Time: Stick around for an exciting reading presented by a local author!
Make Your Cape: Unleash your inner superhero and design your very own cape to wear with pride. Get creative, get colorful, and get ready to save the day!
Whether you're a lifelong comic fan, a budding hero in training, or just looking for a super good time, this one's for you. Bring the family, bring your imagination, and come ready to soar!
This event takes place at the beginning of the Mexamericon Event at the MACC, which is also free and open to all ages. After you make your cape and listen to story time, stay for the Comic-Con! Every hero has an origin story. Come be part of ours!
- Education Programs
SABADOS EN FAMILIA
Sábados en Familia is a free kids’ cultural arts and crafts program delivered by the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican-American Cultural Center at Austin libraries. Sábados en Familia (Saturdays with family) is a monthly program, usually offered on the second Saturday of the month, at local libraries. Participants will engage in a bilingual storytime and hands-on cultural arts activities that reflect the creative endeavors and diverse interests of the Austin community.
*Kid- friendly, all ages
*Hands-on story and activity for families
*Cultural art educationSabados en Familia Dates and Themes, Fall 2026:
Saturday, October 31: Superheroes
Saturday November 13: Circus
Saturday, December 19: Holiday Treats from Latin America
All of the above dates will be 12:00am-2:00pm, at the MACC, and free and open to all, with no RSVP required._UG%20-%20%20089.jpg)
ACADEMIA CUAUHTLI
Academia Cuauhtli (Eagle Academy) is a language and culture revitalization project for 4th-grade students from Metz, Perez, Sanchez, Zavala and Houston Elementary Schools from the Austin Independent School District (AISD). Academia Cuauhtli offers instruction in Mexican American Studies and Tejano Studies curriculum.
Aztech Kidz Code is Academia Cuauhtli's FREE bilingual summer camp in collaboration with the Academia Cuauhtli, which is specifically designed for developing STEM skills using coding tools for kids. This camp is a project-based, language, and Indigenous STEM program for second to sixth-grade students attending the Austin Independent School District. This is a youth technology program designed to teach students how to code, create video games, and monetize their creations. They also learn cultural arts traditions such as Danza Mexica. This camp is open to current Academia Cuauhtli students and emergent bilingual students. Classes are taught in Spanish and Nahuatl.
Learn more about Academia Cuauhtli!
CIS After School Program
The mission of Communities In Schools (CIS) in Texas is to surround students with a community of support, empowering students to stay in school and achieve in life. The CIS model is designed to keep students persisting in education and ultimately graduate from high school. CIS partners with educators, students, and parents to identify the specific needs of students who are at-risk of dropping out of school. Once needs are identified, CIS customizes supports for students and families and provides individual case management services to help students fully engage in learning, involving the community as part of this process. CIS monitors student level data and tracks education outcomes for those students served.
- Digital Lessons
LIBRARY OF ONLINE CURRICULUM with VIDEO LESSONS for PARENTS/TEACHERS
Watch Instructional Videos on Youtube!
If you are visiting this site through the Lending Library, click here for a list of lesson plans.
Anyone can access any of our Individual lessons, including the lending library lessons, below:
Lucha Libre (Mexican Professional Wrestling) is known worldwide for its high-flying moves and colorful masks. This lesson will show how to make your own luchador mask using templates available for free in the links below:
View the full Lucha Libre Lesson!
Enter the Smithsonian Learning Lab!
Print the Lesson Plan & Mask Template!
Watch Instructional Video!
More Resources on This Lesson:
Teacher Guide 5-7 years, Teacher Guide 8-10 years
Parent Guide (5-7 years), Parent Guide (8-10 years)
Learn about the Mythical Mexican Axolotl! Participants will create an understanding of the significance of the Axolotl while learning about the origins of the Axolotl. Participants will learn about the Environmental Injustice they face in Mexico City and all over the world.
View/ Print the Full Lesson Plan!Print the Template!
Watch the Instructional Video!
View the Lesson Page!
Mexican Milk Snake: Participants will create and learn about the significance of the Mexican Milk Snake (between Texas and Mexico) and it’s unique facts. Students will create their own accordion snake.
View/ Print the Full Lesson Plan!
View the Lesson Page!
Watch the Instructional Video!
Learn More About Borderland Wildlife!
Nature Self Portrait: Participants will learn the importance of self-portraits, and while analyzing portraits of Latinx historical and contemporary figures. Participants will also use what they have learned to create portraits of themselves.
View/ Print the Lesson Plan!
Watch the Instructional Video!
Tecun Uman Masks: Participants will create and decorate a mask inspired by the Tecún Umán masks of Guatemala, while learning about the history and meaning of Tecún Umán masks.
View/ Print the Full Lesson Plan!
Watch the Instructional Video!
Coloring Book and Gallery Tour: Students will learn about the history of the MACC and consider what kind of art they would put on the gallery walls.
The free book, "An Empowered Village and Its Citizens" is a coloring and activity book that tells of the history of the ESB-MACC and encourages children to envision what they would like to see take place at the Center.
View/ Print the Coloring Book (PDF)!
Watch this Live Reading of the coloring book!
Visit the Coloring Book Lesson page!
Take a Virtual Tour of the MACC!
Explore environmental justice as it relates to Latin American rainforests, taking simple steps to fight for justice.
Click Here for COMPLETE Lesson
Instructional Video for Ages 5-6
For Parents
Parent Guide Rainforest (7-13 years)For Teachers
Teaching Guide
A thriving subculture in Austin, lowriders celebrate this tradition in Chicanx communities.
Click Here for COMPLETE Lesson
Resources for Parents
Lowriders Instructional Video
Lowriders Parent Teaching Guide Ages 5-6 years
Lowriders Parent Teaching Guide Ages 7-13 yearsResources for Teachers
Lowriders Instructional Video
Lowriders Teaching Curriculum Ages 5-6 years
Lowriders Teaching Curriculum Ages 7-13 years
Join ESB-MACC educators Lori Navarrete, Michelle de Santiago, and Gricelda Silva in a video tutorial on calaveras de azucar, or sugar skulls. The video will tell viewers about the origin of sugar skull making as a way to honor the deceased, as well as a complete recipe for making them and tips on decorating. The final part of the video includes a prerecorded Q & A by students in classrooms all over the U.S. The video was filmed with Nepris, a virtual classroom that broadcasts directly to schools, and was created as a step by step tutorial to coincide with the ESB-MACC's Day of the Dead Festival.
Click here for COMPLETE Lesson
Sugar Skull Making Video Tutorial 2018
Sugar Skull Making and Paper Flower Making, 2020
On permanent display at the ESB-MACC is Uprooted Dreams (2012), a site-specific sculptural installation that features over 19 individual, brightly colored woodcarvings. For the artist Margarita Cabrera, the process and product of Uprooted Dreams provides an ongoing platform on which to build respect, equality, solidarity, and dignified ways of making art and creating community.
Click here for COMPLETE Lesson!
Resources For Parents:
Virtual Gallery
Alebrije Parent Guide
Video Tutorial
Storyboard ActivityResources For Teachers
Lesson Plans for Teachers: Ages 5-8
Lesson Plans for Teachers: Ages 9-12
Lesson Plans for Teachers: Ages 13-18
Tejano Music History: Students will learn the history of Tejano music such as its connection to German folk music (eg. the use of an accordion), and the differences within the genre of Tejano music amongst artists such as Flaco Jiménez and Selena Quintanilla.
Watch the Video!
Download the Lesson Plan!