Here are some Guatemalan crafts for kids that make for easy crafts to teach kids about Guatemala. These fun Guatemalan crafts, activities, and printables are perfect for celebrating Guatemala’s Independence Day on September 15th or any day you want to learn more about this beautiful country. Whether you’re looking for Hispanic Heritage Month crafts for kids or just want to introduce more Guatemala activities and crafts for kids into your routine, these projects are a fantastic way to explore the culture and history of Guatemala.
Helping Kids Connect with Their Guatemalan Roots
As parents, we’re always looking for ways for our kids to feel connected to their Guatemalan roots, especially because we live far from our home country. Aside from traveling to Guatemala, one of the best ways to do this is through engaging, hands-on activities that highlight Guatemala’s rich traditions and heritage. By incorporating Guatemalan crafts for kids into our celebrations, we can help our children understand and appreciate where they come from. These crafts are not only great for the classroom when learning about Guatemala or during Hispanic Heritage Month but are also wonderful activities to do at home with family.
Learning About Guatemala Through Crafts
Guatemala’s Independence Day is an excellent opportunity to dive into the rich traditions and vibrant culture of this Central American country. Through Guatemala activities and crafts for kids, children can learn about the colorful and diverse aspects of Guatemalan life, from its ancient Mayan history to its beautiful landscapes and vibrant festivals. Crafting is a fun and meaningful way to bring the spirit of Guatemala into the home or classroom, making these activities perfect for both educational settings and family time.
Educational Benefits of Hispanic Heritage Crafts
Engaging in Guatemalan crafts provides a hands-on way for children to explore the culture of Guatemala and understand its unique place in the world. These activities can be particularly impactful when tied to significant events like Guatemala’s Independence Day or Hispanic Heritage Month. By participating in these crafts, kids not only have fun but also gain a deeper understanding of Guatemala’s history, traditions, and national symbols.
Making Learning Fun and Meaningful
These Guatemalan crafts for kids are more than just creative projects; they are opportunities for children to connect with their cultural heritage, learn about the stories and customs of Guatemala, and appreciate the rich tapestry of Hispanic cultures. Whether in the classroom or at home, these crafts inspire curiosity and pride, making learning about Guatemala an enjoyable experience for everyone. These activities foster a sense of pride and connection to one’s roots, while also celebrating the diverse heritage that makes Guatemala unique.
Flying Quetzal Craft from Growing Up Bilingual
Create a colorful Guatemalan Quetzal Bird Craft with a toilet paper roll, green and red tissue paper, and googly eyes. This craft captures the vibrant colors of Guatemala’s national bird, complete with a yellow beak and fringed feathers. Attached to a string and wooden dowel, it can be used for imaginative play as a flying quetzal.
Coloring Pages by MiBlogChapin.com
Coloring Pages from MiBlogChapin.com feature a variety of Guatemala’s national symbols. Kids can enjoy coloring the quetzal bird, Monja Blanca flower, Tecún Umán, the marimba, the ceiba tree, and Guatemala’s flag and coat of arms. These printable coloring pages are perfect for educational activities, allowing children to explore and learn about Guatemala’s cultural and natural heritage while having fun with colors.
Image: Monja Blanca printable coloring page from MiBlogChapin.com
Worry Doll Craft by Growing Up Bilingual
The Worry Doll Craft from Growing Up Bilingual is a fun and simple activity that uses pipe cleaners and colorful yarn to make traditional Guatemalan worry dolls. Children bend the pipe cleaners into small human shapes and wrap them with yarn to create their own unique dolls. This craft comes with a printable version of the Guatemalan worry doll legend, providing a cultural and educational component that makes it perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month or any day you want to celebrate Guatemalan traditions.
Guatemalan Inspired Centerpiece from Denna’s Ideas
The Guatemalan Inspired Centerpiece from Denna’s Ideas is a fun and colorful craft that serves as a beautiful decoration for any Guatemalan celebration. Using bright paper, ribbons, and traditional Guatemalan patterns, kids can create a vibrant centerpiece that showcases Guatemalan art and culture. This craft is perfect for decorating for Guatemala’s Independence Day or any cultural event.
Photo: Denna’s Ideas
Sawdust Carpet Craft by Growing Up Bilingual
This Sawdust Carpet Craft is inspired by the colorful alfombras, or sawdust carpets, created during Holy Week in Antigua Guatemala. Using stencils with geometric patterns, children can design their own sawdust carpet on cardstock with glue spray and colored sand. This craft is a great way for kids to learn about this unique Guatemalan tradition and express their creativity by making beautiful, vibrant patterns just like those found on the streets of Guatemala during Easter celebrations. This craft is ideal for learning abou Easter or Semana Santa Traditions in Guatemala.
Paper Kite from 4 Crazy Kings
This Paper Kite Craft by 4 Crazy Kings is a fun project inspired by Guatemala’s tradition of kite flying, especially during the Day of the Dead. With tissue paper, bamboo sticks, and string, children can create their own vibrant kites. This craft combines creativity with cultural education, making it a great activity for learning about Guatemalan customs while enjoying the outdoors.
Guatemalan Paper Flags and Banners by Denna’s Ideas
Guatemalan Paper Flags and Banners from Denna’s Ideas are a fantastic way to add Guatemalan flair to your celebrations. Using printable patterns, kids can create their own flags and banners in Guatemala’s national colors. This craft is great for classroom decorations or Guatemalan-inspired parties, providing a fun way to learn about the symbols and colors of Guatemala’s flag.
Photo: Denna’s Ideas
Guatemala Classroom Activity Sheet by Denna’s Ideas
The Guatemala Classroom Activity Sheet from Denna’s Ideas is an excellent educational tool for teaching about Guatemala’s Independence Day. This printable sheet includes a word search and information about Guatemala, making it perfect for classroom activities. It helps children engage with Guatemalan history and culture in a fun and interactive way.
Worksheet and image from Denna’s Ideas
Guatemalan Independence Day Free Party Printables from Growing Up Bilingual
This set of free Guatemala party printable includes a cake banner, cupcake toppers, and cupcake liners featuring the national symbols, flag, and colors of Guatemala. These printables add a festive touch to any party and are an easy way to incorporate Guatemalan pride into your celebrations.
To celebrate Guatemala’s independence day we usually make some of our favorite Guatemalan traditional dishes. My kids specially love to make traditional Guatemalan candy or try new delicious Guatemalan desserts. Here are some other traditional Guatemalan recipes that you can try.
Traditional Guatemalan Recipes
If you crave traditional Guatemalan foods, add these delicious recipes to your menu. They are the perfect touch for a Día de La Independencia party or as a show-and-tell recipe for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Enchiladas are one of the most popular Guatemalan foods. They are a mixture of vegetables and ground meat piled high onto a crunchy tortilla.
If you want to learn how to make traditional Guatemalan food, these Guatemalan tamales recipes are definitely for you! From the savory tamales rojos to the sweet taste of tamalitos de elote, you will find these Guatemalan recipes simply divine.
This easy and healthy recipe for Pollo en Jocón is a heartwarming tomatillo and cilantro chicken stew. It is a traditional Guatemalan dish, the ultimate cold-weather comfort food.
One of Guatemala’s more staple dishes, Tostadas, are deep-fried corn tortillas with different toppings to create delicious concoctions full of flavors. You typically spread Guatemalan tostadas with recado salsa (tomato sauce), refried black beans, and guacamole, topped with onion slices and cheese.
Shucos is a Guatemalan-inspired hot dog, but unique ingredients and flavors make them different from any traditional American hot dog. It has delicious toppings like guacamole, repollo (sauerkraut-style cabbage), and meats (sausages and chorizo are the most common). Pile everything, including condiments like mayo, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, chimichurri sauce, or anything else you like!
Buñuelos Guatemaltecos are the quintessential Guatemalan comfort food for cold weather. A fritter-like ball of dough soaked in a rich syrup, buñuelos dulces (or bunuelos) is a popular Guatemalan food commonly sold by street vendors, at state fairs, and during the holidays.
Empanada de Manjar is a traditional Guatemalan dessert, crusty on the outside and creamy on the inside! They are usually eaten during Lent and many Guatemalan holidays.
If you have a craving for something sweet, then Guatemalan torrejas should be at the top of the list. Torrejas are sweet bread or brioche soaked in a milk or eggs mixture before being fried in oil. Then, you bathe them in a sweet syrup made from boiling water and spices into a golden brown sauce.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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Hi Paula! I ended up making a Guatemalan flag craft from paint chips to celebrate el 15 de septiembre, and was very pleased that it was mentioned on NBC Latino here: http://nbclatino.com/2012/09/27/resources-for-exploring-hispanic-heritage-with-your-kids/ . Are you going to be posting about Hispanic Heritage Month?
🙂
I just founded your blog.! and its very interesting. On one thing, I want say: The spelling of Tecun Uman, does not have “H”.
Since this name its not Spanish, the most common accepted spelling are: Tekum Umam, Tecun Uman, Tecum Umam.
The name comes from the K’iche’ language and its meaning more or less is: “Black butterfly, grandson of”.
Thanks Jade! I fixed it!! Really appreciate it.
my last name is diaz too
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Hi,
I am a Spanish Teacher, kindergarten – fourth grade. This year we are learning about Guatemala. We are a public school but want to include a song, craft, book…. in my teaching in order to teach the students about Guatemalan Christmas. Any ideas would be helpful.
Gracias