The hum of excitement filled Ms. Paganโs first-grade classroom at School No. 2 as 18 eager students settled in after lunch for a special social studies lesson that blended culture, art, and self-discovery. Giggles rippled through the room as tiny arms shot into the air, eager to answer questions in both Spanish and English. Their focus? ๐พ๐๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ through the life, imagination, and creativity of ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐-๐๐๐ข๐ค๐ช๐จ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ง๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ค.
Ms. Pagan gathered her students close on the reading carpet and opened the vibrant picture book Viva Frida by award-winning author and illustrator Yuyi Morales. As she turned the pages, her voice brought Kahloโs colorful world to life, showing how the legendary artist used her imagination to transform her dreams into breathtaking works of art. Students leaned forward, wide-eyed, as they echoed new Spanish words like flores (flowers) and รบnica (unique), connecting Kahloโs love of nature, animals, and bold self-expression to their own lives.
Next, Ms. Pagan shifted the focus inward with a joyful read-aloud of I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow. This playful, rhyming story โ filled with silly, exaggerated illustrations โ had the children laughing as they listened to the tale of a little girl who loves herself just the way she is. Beneath the giggles, a powerful message took root: be proud of who you are, no matter what anyone else may think.
With Kahloโs iconic self-portraits as inspiration, Ms. Pagan challenged her students to create their own works of art. Earlier in the day, each child had taken a selfie, which now served as a guide for their drawings. Armed with iPads and boxes of crayons, the young artists worked diligently as they sketched themselves in vibrant detail. Guided by the lesson of another beloved book, Ish, they embraced the idea that art doesnโt need to be perfect โ it just needs to be you.
โThis activity tied Hispanic Heritage Month to my studentsโ own self-identity,โ said Ms. Pagan. โIt gave them the chance to see their beauty and uniqueness while honoring an artist who celebrated hers.โ
By the end of the afternoon, the classroom had transformed into a mini art gallery. Bare walls now bloomed with colorful self-portraits, each one radiating individuality and pride. As the students stood back to admire their masterpieces, their smiles told the real story: like Frida Kahlo, every child is a one-of-a-kind work of art.