Mexican Formative Handicraft | Hispanic Heritage Month

Mexican Handicraft | Hispanic Heritage Month September 15th - October 15th 

Esperanza Rising Tissue Paper Flower Mural

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural traditions of Mexico and other Hispanic countries through art and craft projects. Here are some Mexican handicraft ideas categorized by grade and age level:

**Preschool (Ages 3-5)**:

1. **Paper Marigolds**: Teach young children about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by creating paper marigolds, a traditional flower used in Mexican celebrations.

2. **Serpentinas (Paper Streamers)**: Make colorful serpentinas by cutting and decorating strips of construction paper. This can introduce children to the vibrant decorations used during Mexican fiestas.

**Elementary School (Grades K-5)**:

1. **Piñatas**: Create piñatas in the shape of traditional Mexican animals or objects. Kids can decorate them with bright colors and fill them with candies for a fun and interactive project.

2. **Papel Picado**: Teach kids to make traditional Mexican papel picado (cut paper) banners using tissue paper. They can cut out intricate designs and string them together for decoration.

3. **Huichol Yarn Art**: Introduce children to the Huichol art of yarn painting. They can create their own designs on wooden boards by pressing colorful yarn into a layer of beeswax.

**Middle School (Grades 6-8)**:

1. **Mexican Folk Art Masks**: Explore Mexican folk art traditions by having students design and paint their own masks, inspired by the vibrant masks used in Mexican dance and festivals.

2. **Amate Bark Painting**: Teach students about the ancient art of amate bark painting from Mexico. They can create their own paintings on pieces of bark using natural pigments.

3. **Calavera Skull Art**: Encourage middle schoolers to design and decorate sugar skull masks, a popular symbol of Dia de los Muertos. They can use paint, beads, and other decorations.

**High School (Grades 9-12)**:

1. **Tin Art (Hojalata)**: Explore Mexican hojalata (tin art) by having students create their own designs on small pieces of tin. They can use tools to emboss and paint their creations.

2. **Alebrijes**: Teach students about Oaxacan alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. They can sculpt their own alebrijes from papier-mâché or wood and paint them in vibrant colors.

3. **Frida Kahlo Self-Portraits**: Explore the work of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and have students create their own self-portraits in her style, using vibrant colors and symbolic elements.

4. **Mural Art**: Collaborate on a class mural project inspired by the murals of famous Mexican artists like Diego Rivera. Each student can contribute their own piece to the larger artwork.

Remember to provide historical and cultural context for each craft project, so students gain a deeper appreciation for the significance of Mexican art and heritage. Additionally, adapt the complexity of the projects to suit the age and skill level of the students.

"Some aver that a course of scientific training in handicraft gives a boy or girl a new zeal for school work to such an extent that the progress of such a pupil is not only equal but often exceeds, that of pupils whose attention is concentrated on a literary curriculum. If this is true, even to the extent a pupil under these conditions holds his own, he has the additional advantage of having learned to use his hands, and his education, as a result, is "all-sided." It has been said that "the true aim of education is the development of all the powers of man to the culminating point of action: and this power in the concrete--the power to do some useful thing for man--this must be the last analysis of educational truth" The Pedagogy of Educational Handicraft by T.W. Berry:1909

Here are some more Hispanic heritage handicraft ideas using tissue paper flowers:

- Make tissue paper marigold flowers. Marigolds are an important symbol in Day of the Dead celebrations. Use orange, yellow, and red tissue paper to create large, bright marigold blooms. These can be used as decorations or incorporated into a wreath or garland.

- Craft papel picado banners. Papel picado are colorful tissue paper banners used in Mexican celebrations. Cut out simple or elaborate designs from tissue paper in bright colors like pink, yellow, green, purple. String them up as wall decorations. 

- Tissue paper roses. Roses are used to decorate events and altars for Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day December 12th. Make roses from red, white, or pink tissue paper to display.

- Tissue paper carnations. Carnations are the national flower of Colombia. Make simple carnations from purple, pink, red, or white tissue paper to celebrate Colombian culture.

- Mini tissue paper flowers for piñatas. Piñatas are a fun Hispanic tradition. Make tiny tissue paper flowers to glue onto a piñata before filling it with candy or treats. Use all colors of tissue paper.

- Tissue paper sunflowers. Peru's national flower is the yellow and red sunflower. Craft mini sunflowers from yellow and orange tissue paper.

- Tissue paper wreaths. Incorporate any combination of marigolds, roses, carnations, or other flowers into a colorful wreath to display.

The key is to use bright, vibrant-colored tissue paper and create flowers symbolic of Hispanic culture. Tissue paper is an inexpensive way to make beautiful, decorative items to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

**Preschool (Ages 3-5)**

1. **Fingerprint Art (Pre-K and Kindergarten):** Use non-toxic, washable ink pads and encourage children to create pictures using their fingerprints.

2. **Paper Plate Animals (Pre-K and Kindergarten):** Cut out shapes from paper plates and let kids paint or color them to create their favorite animals.

3. **Playdough Creations (Pre-K and Kindergarten):** Provide playdough and simple tools like cookie cutters and rolling pins for imaginative sculpting.

4. **Nature Collage (Pre-K and Kindergarten):** Go on a nature walk, collect leaves, twigs, and flowers, and create collages with them.

**Early Elementary (Grades 1-3)**

1. **Homemade Greeting Cards (Grades 1-3):** Teach kids how to make personalized cards for family and friends using colored paper, stickers, and markers.

2. **Button Art (Grades 1-3):** Sort and arrange colorful buttons to create unique designs and patterns.

3. **Pasta Jewelry (Grades 1-3):** Paint and string pasta shapes to make colorful necklaces or bracelets.

4. **Sock Puppets (Grades 1-3):** Transform old socks into fun puppets by adding buttons for eyes, felt for mouths, and yarn for hair.

**Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6)**

1. **Friendship Bracelets (Grades 4-6):** Teach kids various friendship bracelet patterns using embroidery floss or yarn.

2. **Origami (Grades 4-6):** Introduce the art of paper folding with simple origami projects like paper cranes or frogs.

3. **DIY Beaded Keychains (Grades 4-6):** Create beaded keychains by stringing colorful beads onto keyring loops.

4. **Painted Rock Garden (Grades 4-6):** Paint rocks with vibrant colors and designs, then place them in the garden or use them as paperweights.

**Middle School (Grades 7-8)**

1. **Candle Making (Grades 7-8):** Teach candle-making techniques using wax, wicks, and molds to create customized candles.

2. **Tie-Dye T-Shirts (Grades 7-8):** Explore tie-dyeing techniques on plain white t-shirts to make unique clothing items.

3. **Duct Tape Wallets (Grades 7-8):** Craft wallets, pouches, or even handbags using colorful duct tape.

4. **Paper Mache (Grades 7-8):** Create sculptures or masks using paper mache techniques.

**High School (Grades 9-12)**

1. **Polymer Clay Sculptures (Grades 9-12):** Work with polymer clay to sculpt intricate figurines or jewelry.

2. **Screen Printing (Grades 9-12):** Introduce screen printing to create custom-designed t-shirts or posters.

3. **Leatherworking (Grades 9-12):** Teach basic leatherworking skills to make wallets, belts, or leather accessories.

4. **Woodworking (Grades 9-12):** Engage in more advanced woodworking projects like building small furniture or decorative items.

Remember to adapt these ideas to suit the skill level and interests of the children in each age group, and always prioritize safety by providing appropriate supervision and materials.