20 Fun Spanish Crafts to Do With Your Learner
Get your child excited to learn a second language with this list of Spanish crafts!
Give your kid a break from the textbook by stepping into the world of creativity. Arts and crafts activities enable your child to have real-life experiences and opportunities to use what they learned in class. Art is more than just a hobby, it’s also a highly effective learning tool!
This fun Spanish crafts guide is packed full of artsy creations that your child can make from stuff lying around the house. Transform your old paper plates, tissue paper, and tin foil into a Spanish work of art!
Grab your supplies, and let’s get creative!
How Spanish Crafts Help Your Student Learn Spanish
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Students spend a huge portion of their day sitting in a classroom, reading textbooks, and taking tests. While these are all essential steps in the learning process, it’s also important to have creative learning opportunities. Once you break out the paint, glue, and paper, your child will already be won over!
Did you know that the Spanish word for crafts is oficio? Oficio is much more than a hobby, it provides insight into different cultures and traditions. If you think about it, art is all around us. From website designs to informational brochures, art plays an important role in everyday life.
Spanish crafts also let your students review vocabulary and grammar in a new and more natural environment. For example, instead of just memorizing Spanish color names, your students actually get to use them! Studies like this one show that language learning happens faster when kids use the skills outside of the classroom.
Art projects usually involve lots of instructions. If you’re able to, teach your child Spanish commands like siéntate or escúchame by giving them instructions in Spanish. Your kid will be motivated to pay attention and listen to what you’re saying so that they can continue with the fun Spanish crafts! Plus, this makes for a great immersion experience.
Spanish Crafts for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
The following Spanish crafts are safe and easy enough for little ones. With some adult supervision and instruction, your little language learner can be making Spanish art in no time!
Mexican Folk Art
This paper plate project is a great way to teach your child about folk art. There is no single definition of folk art, rather there are many different ways to think about this style of craft! Folk art is an expression of cultural identity. It’s often rooted in traditions and can convey community values and skills. Looking at these traditional designs can give you an idea about American art’s origins. Check out this Paper Plate Folk Art Tutorial to create some stunning Mexican crafts of your own!
Taíno Indian Petroglyph Rocks
The Taíno Indians were the indigenous people of the Caribbean and Florida. During the 15th century, they were the main inhabitants of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. These indigenous people influenced the current Hispanic populations of these countries. Learn more about this fascinating culture here.
The Taino are known for leaving behind petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are images created by picking, carving, or abrading the surface of a rock to create a form of art. Take a look at some petroglyphs here and then create your own using this tutorial!
Egg Maracas
Maracas are a well-known Latin American instrument. This beautiful instrument originally came from the tribes of Latin America but eventually found its way into modern Latino culture. The indigenous peoples of Latin America would use the maraca in religious chants and ceremonies. The instrument gave a vibrant sound that highlighted these important events.
Your little one will have a blast playing with maracas that they made themself! Check out these directions to make these easter egg and plastic spoon maracas.
Guatemalan Kites
You can spot colorful dots throughout the Guatemalan sky in the days leading up to the Day of the Dead holiday. Guatemala has a huge kite festival that mixes ancient rituals and national pride to create stunning works of art for the sky.
Read more about Guatemala’s annual kite festival here. Then, create your own unique Guatemalan kites with this easy tutorial!
Colorful Llama Finger Puppets
Llamas are more than just cute creatures, they are also a huge part of Latin American culture. The Inca were an indigenous civilization that dominated South America from approximately 1200 to 1532 AD. They relied on the llama to carry trade goods, produce, and military supplies throughout their empire. The key role that llamas played in the Inca culture and economy elevated them to a highly regarded status.
Today, llamas still remain a symbol of South America but aren’t used as often. Nevertheless, you can still pay homage to this strong animal by creating your own llama design!
Guatemalan Worry Dolls
Worry Dolls originated in Guatemala. These tiny handmade dolls are created from sticks or wire and decorated with yarn and fabric. Traditionally, Guatemalan children tell their worries to the Worry Dolls and then place them under their pillow when they go to bed at night. By morning, the dolls have gifted them with the wisdom and knowledge to eliminate their worries!
Let your child create their very own worry doll to help ease their anxieties and fears.
Mexican Amate Art
Amate is a type of bark paper made from fig trees that have been manufactured in Mexico for hundreds of years. It was used primarily to create codices, an ancient manuscript text.
The ancient Aztecs used the Amate paper for record-keeping, but in today’s age it’s mostly used for decorations. The Otomí people of Central Mexico and Nahua artisans paint intricate designs of birds, plants, and animals on the sheets of paper.
Show your student some examples of amate art, then use this Mexican Amate Tutorial to paint your own Amate designs. All you need is a brown paper bag and some fluorescent paint!
Mola Art
Mola is a traditional art style that originated in Panama. This type of folk art came from the Kuna Indians who were the first inhabitants of this beautiful country. Mola involves layers of brightly colored fabric shaped into an animal or geometric forms. They would be used to decorate Kuna women’s shirts and clothes as a symbol of status and artistic expression.
Your child can create their own Mola design using construction paper, scissors, and glue. Take a look at this tutorial then get crafting!
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo isn’t a holiday dedicated to Mexico’s independence, rather it commemorates a battle against the French army that took place on May 5, 1862. As a result, this day is used to honor Mexican culture, tradition, and history both in Mexico and the United States! Learn more about this colorful holiday here.
Paper Flowers
Paper flowers are one of the many popular Cinco de Mayo decorations. These flowers originated from pre-hispanic amate used by the Aztec. With the introduction of tissue paper, new flower creations were created for decorations.
This simple tissue paper flowers tutorial is easy to follow for some colorful creations. All you need is tissue paper, colored string, and a stapler. Hang up your gorgeous floral flowers all-around your house to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Piñata Paper Bags
Kids love piñatas! You don’t need a party to create one of these colorful creations. This piñata paper bag tutorial breaks down this simple craft into easy-to-follow steps. Grab your bag, candy, and some tissue paper for an exciting creation!
Add some fun piñata facts to the craft by reading up on its history here.
Spanish Crafts for Elementary Students (Ages 6-12)
Engage and excite your elementary student with these easy traditional Spanish crafts! Turn art time into an engaging Spanish lesson. You’ll never run out of project ideas with this list of Spanish crafts.
Día de los Muertos
No Spanish class is complete without a lesson about the traditional Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This holiday is an important part of Mexican culture and comes with lots of crafting opportunities!
Get your student familiar with Day of the Dead by introducing some important vocabulary terms. Then it’s time to let the fun begin!
Papel Picado
Papel picado is a sure way to make your space stand out. This colorful paper is a Mexican decoration traditionally used to bring color to fiestas of all kinds. They are also super easy to make! All you need is colorful paper and a pair of scissors. This tutorial goes into detail on how to make your own designs at home.
For even more Spanish decoration ideas, take a look at these 25 Spanish Classroom Decor Ideas for Educators!
Kid-Friendly Lanterns
This Lanterns Tutorial shows you how to create adorable little lanterns out of simple plastic cups! The cute skull themes make them fitting to add to your Day of the Dead lesson.
Paper Plate Masks
These Day of the Dead masks are sure to get your child excited! These artsy creations are made from paper plates and decorations. Each one looks unique! This tutorial breaks down the steps to creating these fun skull masks!
El Guernica
The Guernica is Pablo Picasso’s most famous painting. This ginormous painting depicts a tragic part of Spain’s history. This representation of the Spanish Civil War shows the sadness of this period.
Read up on el Guernica here then ask your child about the painting. How does it make them feel? What does it represent? You can tell them a bit of the story behind it before having them re-create one of their own. Use our printable template and let your kids make their own pieces of art!
Dalí Clocks
Continuing with our art history lesson, The Persistence of Memory is another famous Spanish work of art. Painted by Dalí in 1931, this oil painting shows the stunning effects of the surrealism style. You can read more about this eye-catching piece here.
For the art, we’re creating our own melting clocks! Choose which type of melting clock your child wants to make: clay or paper. This Paper Plate Melting Clocks Tutorial shows you exactly how to create these timely creations. For the clay version, you need a few more materials like clay, paint, and varnish. Here’s a tutorial to get you started!
Pirinola DIY
The Pirinola is a popular toy throughout Latin America. The toy is a spinning top that dates back to ancient Rome.
Make your own Pirinola with our printable template. Just cut out the template, stick your pencil through the center with a paperclip on top, and spin the clip to play!
The toma todo game is played with two or more players. Each player needs about ten tokens (you can use beans, pieces of paper, any small object works). Everyone puts one token into the center to start and then one player spins the pirinola. You must follow the instructions on the section where the paper clip lands.
Here are the instructions:
- Toma uno. – Take one (token from the pile).
- Toma dos. – Take two (tokens from the pile).
- Toma todo. – Take it all (the whole pile).
- Pon uno. – Put one (in the pile).
- Pon dos. – Put two (in the pile).
- Todos ponen. – Everyone puts a token in the pile.
When toma todo comes up, in order to continue, everyone must put one token in the pile. Play continues until one person has all the tokens.
Peruvian Wave Friendship Bracelet
A historical Peruvian design, this friendship bracelet tutorial teaches your kid a new braiding technique while also helping them look in style!
DIY Mexican Style Pottery
These fun creations are useful too! Have your kid give your patio a Mexican flair with these painted pots. Find the tutorial here for a fun arts and crafts project.
Recycled Maracas
Maracas have long been a part of Latin Music History. The maracas are thought to be first created by the Tainos Indians. Traditionally, they were created from the fruit of the Higuera tree which is round in shape.
The pulp would be taken out of the fruit and holes would be made and filled with tiny pebbles before fitting the instrument with a handle. Each pair of maracas sounds different because the number of pebbles inside gives them a distinct sound.
Turn up la música and let your kids rock out with these homemade maracas!
Potato Stamped Tea Towel
Potato stamped tea towels make for great gifts and cute kitchen clothes! This guide shows you how to create your own creations with just some paint and potatoes.
However, for a Hispanic twist, you’ll want to pick a more unique pattern. Take a look here and here for some Hispanic design inspiration!
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