Creative First Grade Teacher Takes Students to Mexico Without Leaving the Classroom

Sponsored by Southwest | An imaginative teacher is being celebrated for helping her students honor a different culture in a fun, creative way.

Jennifer Hudson welcomed first grade teacher Sonja White from Desoto, Texas, to “The Jennifer Hudson Show” to share her story of bringing Mexico to the classroom to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Sonja went viral after she created a mock trip to Mexico by making a Southwest plane in her very own classroom! She did this in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, a holiday which takes place every year from September 15 through October 15.

Sonja created the full experience of traveling to a different country for her students: The kids got their passports stamped, flew on a Southwest flight, entered customs, and, upon arriving in Mexico, hit the gift shop.

They might have spent the day in their classroom, but the kids felt like they were really on an adventure!

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Not only was this mock trip a great way to celebrate another country’s culture but it was also educational. Students were given a set amount of (fake) money to spend during their trip, and they used their math skills to add up amounts and figure out how much change they needed back.

They also learned about how airplanes work, and they also used their reading and writing skills during their fun day “abroad.”

Southwest Airlines loved seeing the creative travel experience Sonja shared with her classroom. To celebrate her efforts, Jennifer announced to Sonja that Southwest is donating $10,000 to her school!

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In addition to this donation, Southwest rewarded Sonja and her students’ love of travel and adventure by inviting the teacher and her entire first grade class on a field trip to the Southwest Airlines Headquarters!

Sonja sent Jennifer Hudson an piece of "Happy Mail" updating her about her school's field trip to Southwest HQ in Dallas, Texas.

The teachers and kids were able to board real planes and were treated to a Mexican fiesta in honor of their mock trip to Mexico.

The airline also surprised all the first-grade teachers with real trips to anywhere Southwest flies — including Mexico!

“The Jennifer Hudson Show” airs weekdays. Here’s when to watch in your area.