National Hispanic Heritage Month
Whether you can trace your roots to Spain, Mexico or the Spanish-speaking nations of Central and South America, CMOM is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by delving deep into the heart of four countries: Spain, Guatemala, Chile, and Dominican Republic.
Each week’s activities will give a glimpse into the region’s people and what makes them unique. Along the way, we will discover the wonderful ways we are all the same.
Themed-food trucks each Sunday from 11a – 3p plus pinatas at 2p will wrap up the week’s celebration.
SCAVENGER HUNTS:
September 16 – 28: National Bird and Flag Scavenger Hunt
- Hidden around the museum are the flags and national birds of Spain, Guatemala, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. Snap a picture of each one, and when you’ve found them all, show your photos to a staff member to win a prize!
September 30 – October 14: National Flower and Flag Scavenger Hunt
- Hidden around the museum are the flags and national flowers of Spain, Guatemala, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. Snap a picture of each one, and when you’ve found them all, show your photos to a staff member to win a prize!
SPAIN: 9/16-21
ART Daily
- Using bold use of color, shape, and form, we are celebrating Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso in the Art and Innovation Lab.
- Additional art projects include collaborative skirts based on the country’s colors, and Andalusian lacework using ribbon and string.
STORY TIME Daily at 11a and 2:30p
- Morning Story Time: Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Kyle
- Afternoon Story Time: Valencia and the Golden Fiesta of Spain by Khemfa Vongsalikham
CODING Friday and Sunday at 3p
- The Flamenco dance paper fan project will teach children how to code messages using the ‘language of the fan.’
POP-UP Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30a
- Tomato Splat Art is inspired by La Tomatina, or tomato festival where participants hurl overripe tomatoes. Don’t worry, we’re taking the fun outside!
- Marzipan-inspired dough will use scented oils will focus on sense of touch and smell.
SENSORY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30a
- We’re making castanets, associated with Spanish flamenco music and dance.
MUSIC Friday at 10a
- Kids will learn rhythm with castanets as they explore flamenco music.
GUATEMALA: 9/23-28
ART Daily
- Guatemalan artist Carlos Merida inspires this art project using abstract and geometric styles.
- Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
- Barriletes, better known as kites, are used in festivities in the Guatemalan culture. Kids will make their own using cardboard, pencils and streamers.
- Beaded Mayan ornaments use beads and children’s creativity to create ornaments to take home.
- Fajas Bordadas, or belts, are an integral part of every Mayan woman’s dress, and we’re giving children a chance to express their creativity by creating a belt they can wear.
STORY TIME Daily at 11a and 2:30p
- Morning Story Time: Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del Arcoiris by Linda Elovitz Marshall
- Afternoon Story Time: The Legend of the Worry Doll by Terilee Greeff
CODING Friday and Sunday at 3p
- Since Guatemala has the largest telecommunications market for Central America, it’s only fitting that our coding session be a charade telephone game.
POP-UP Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30a
- Weaving is a traditional Guatemalan craft. We will be weaving bowls with plastic ribbons and plastic bags.
- Mayan Worry dolls are the size of a fingernail or thumb and are placed under a child’s pillow, carrying their worries of the day. We’ll be making worry dolls while children hear the stories behind this craft.
SENSORY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30a
- Guatemalan coffee is renowned for its high quality, complex flavor profiles. Kids will learn the science behind coffee making using a syphon.
MUSIC Friday at 10a
- Children will learn the national dance of Guatemala, son guatemalteco, with foot stamping and the marimba.
CHILE: 9/30-10/5
ART Daily
- Karen Pinto De La Calle, primarily known as Monroe, began her artistic path by immersing herself in classical figurative painting and portraiture. Children will experience kaleidoscopic optical illusions inspired by Monroe’s current colorful abstract paintings.
- Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
- Patchwork burlap, arpillera, handicraft are a valuable piece of Chilean cultural heritage. Kids will use all kinds of textiles to tell their story through this artform.
- The black clay of Quinchamali produces beautiful pottery through burning, engravings and painting processes.
STORY TIME Daily at 11a and 2:30p
- Morning Story Time: Nosotros Means Us by Paloma Valdivia
- Afternoon Story Time: My Name Is Gabriela/ Me Llamo Gabriela by Monica Brown
CODING Friday and Sunday at 3p
- Miniature archaeological dig will have kids following codes to determine where to dig to find the dinosaur.
POP-UP Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30a
- “Horsehair” Crin (crafting) is a unique and delicate art form. Kids will use colorful synthetic strands to create similar patterns.
- Conducting with Copper. Kids will learn about conduction using copper – largely produced in Chile.
SENSORY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30a
- Chilean rain sticks are musical instruments that create a rain-like sound. Kids will make their own hollow tube filled with small grains.
MUSIC Friday at 10a
- Cueca consists of handclapping and foot-tapping. Children will learn this national dance.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: 10/7-12
ART Daily
- Guillo Perez is known for abstract expressionism. Children will use his techniques using spatulas and paint.
- Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
- Carnaval Masks create unique pieces. Kids can make and wear their creations.
- Larimar is one of the world’s rarest gemstones. Kids will make their rare geode using salt and watercolor.
STORY TIME Daily at 11a and 2:30p
- Morning Story Time: Islandborn by Junot Diaz
- Afternoon Story Time: Josefina’s Habichuelas/ Las Habichuelas de Josefina by Jasminne Mendez
CODING Friday and Sunday at 3p
- Sunray Rover. This coding experience draws inspiration from the legends and myths surrounding astronomy, and the fact that the Dominican Republic is one of the few places to see the Zenith, when the sun is perpendicular to the Earth twice a year.
POP-UP Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11:30a
- Faceless Dolls are a celebrated handicraft of the Dominican Republic and in Dominican homes. Kids will make little clothes for their own faceless dolls.
- Amber Resign Experiments with Bug Fossils – In the Dominican Republic, the most popular jewelry to buy is larimar and amber. Kids will ‘discover’ fossilized matter preserved in ‘amber’ and make their own fossils.
- At Home: Make your own geode crystal
SENSORY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:30a
- We’re making slime while discovering habichuelas con Dulce (sweet bean liquid dessert) while hearing Josefina’s Habichuelas/ Las Habichuelas de Josefina by Jasminne Mendez
MUSIC Friday at 10a
- Merengue – Children will learn rhythm while they learn the most famous music style and dance in the Dominican Republic.
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