The hum of excitement filled Ms. Pagan’s 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? 𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙃𝙞𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝 through the life, imagination, and creativity of 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙-𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙈𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙖 𝙆𝙖𝙝𝙡𝙤.
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 Kahlo’s 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 única (unique), connecting Kahlo’s 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 — filled with silly, exaggerated illustrations — 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 Kahlo’s 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 doesn’t need to be perfect — it just needs to be you.
“This activity tied Hispanic Heritage Month to my students’ own self-identity,” said Ms. Pagan. “It gave them the chance to see their beauty and uniqueness while honoring an artist who celebrated hers.”
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.