Papel Picado- Connections and Extensions

Science
The use of paper is fundamental to the papel picado craft tradition. Investigate how paper is made.

What materials are used to make various kinds of paper?
How are the raw materials processed?

What chemicals processes are involved? How do the paper fibers adhere together? How are the paper fibers woven or matted? Investigate ecological issues related to paper. What impact has the production and use of paper had on the natural environment? What are people doing today to counter any negative impacts the production and use of paper has had on delicate ecosystems? Are there any alternatives to the use of paper in papel picado such as plastic? What are the pros and cons of such alternatives?

Math
Introduce, practice, and perfect measuring skills in the creation of papel picado projects. Relate the folding of sheets of paper to whole numbers, fractions, and division. Identify factors of the numbers used in measuring and folding. Create math problems and solutions utilizing the four operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Identify and describe geometric shapes created in the production of papel picado. Identify and measure any angles used in papel picado projects. Measure the various sides of the papel picado projects to determine their area and perimeter. Identify, describe, and label sides of the papel picado as rays, lines, and line segments.

Art
Research the wide variety of paper-making techniques practiced around the world. Create homemade paper with a variety of materials such as old cotton rags, old newspaper, recycled paper bags, laundry lint, and plant fibers such as cornhusk. Use the homemade paper for papel picado projects. Research traditional cut paper designs. Reproduce these designs on the homemade paper or create original designs suitable for a wide variety of celebrations. Cut the designs with scissors or with Exacto blades. Try folding the designs in order to score the paper and then tearing them to create a rustic or primitive look to the banners. Investigate the use of dyes in paper production. Create dyes using natural pigments such as ground minerals, plant materials such as flower petals, and even insects such as cochineal. Use the natural dyes to color commercially produced or handmade paper.

Physical Education
Create papel picado banners and flags to identify various sporting teams and activities. Attach the banners and flags to poles, posts, and fences to create a festive look to "field day" activities practiced in many schools.

Music
The essence of papel picado is the endless variety of designs cut into the paper. Compare and contrast patterns of cut paper to musical patterns or rhythms in contemporary and traditional music. Research the music performed in local areas of Mexico where papel picado is created to discover Correlations between cut paper patterns and musical rhythms found in regional music. Create simple musical instruments to replicate those patterns. Research any possible musical lore related to the production and use of papel picado. Investigate the music performed during festivals and other celebrations in Mexico where papel picado is used as a popular form of decoration. Create and perform simple dances using papel picado flags to help mark the musical rhythms.

Social Studies
Research the history and use of paper in Mexico as the focus of a report. Investigate the cultural impact of papel picado on the regions where it is produced and on areas to which the use of papel picado has been exported such as Hispanic neighborhoods in the United States. Describe transcultural influences on the development of papel picado such as the synthesis of Mexican indigenous paper cutting traditions with those brought by the Spanish. Discuss the decline or the continuing development of papel picado in Mexico and the United States as communities evolve. How has the use of papel picado changed in response to the adoption of nontraditional holidays in Mexico such as Halloween along the Mexico-U.S. border? What impact have these changes had on traditional practitioners of the craft? Discuss parallel changes on the U.S. side of the border where papel picado is used to celebrate traditional Mexican holidays as well as U.S. festivities associated with Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and St. Patrick's Day.

Language Arts
Develop vocabulary lists related to the art of papel picado. Discuss the origins and meanings of terms such as "paper" (from "papyrus"). Make a list of cognates to help English Language Learners gain maximum comprehension. Post new vocabulary on Four Blocks Word Walls. Integrate Six Trait Writing characteristics into all writing activities. Write, illustrate, and share original stories relating to the history, production, or use of papel picado in Mexico or other regions of the world. Display the stories in the school media center or in the classroom library. Record the stories on cassette tape in English and in Spanish. Create and perform dramatizations of the stories to the class or to the school at large. Post these stories on the school's website.

Community Resources
Papel Picado Artists/Instructors
Los Tepache
1804 Dartmouth NW
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Catalina Delgado-Trunk
Christopher Gibson (505)255-1888
(505)792-2995

Ofrenda Installations
Los Cacahuates
9818 N. Guadalupe Trail
Alameda, NM 87114-2009
(505)255-1888 (505)792-2995



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