Center for Latin American Studies

LEARN ABOUT LATIN AMERICAN GEOGRAPHY

This hands-on and interactive presentation introduces students to Latin American geography by looking at geographical regions like Central and South America and the Caribbean, learning about Latin American countries, and identifying different country maps. The event includes Spanish vocabulary exposure and finishes with a creative class activity where students get to complete a Latin American map of countries.

LEARN ABOUT LATIN AMERICAN PAINTING AND ART

This hands-on and interactive presentation introduces students to different styles of painting in Latin American art. The presentation reviews styles such as murals, canvas, surrealism, and alebrijes. The event will present a slideshow of images and explanation of these different artistic forms in Mexico and Latin America by looking at important painters like Diego Rivera, Fernando Botero, Salvador Dali, and local community painting styles found in alebrijes. The presentation also includes Spanish vocabulary exposure, and finishes with a creative class activity where students get to create their own Latin American painting-inspired artwork.

LEARN ABOUT CINCO DE MAYO AND TALAVERA TILES

An interactive and interdisciplinary presentation on the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico, as well as a discussion of an art form found in Puebla, Mexico, the site of Mexico’s independence battle. The presentation will provide students with a brief overview of Mexican history, a discussion of celebrations in Mexico, and the opportunity to make their own Talavera Tile as they would see in Puebla, Mexico, if they visited it for a celebration.

 LEARN ABOUT INCAN TEXTILES FROM PERU

This hands-on and interactive presentation introduces students to the ancient Inca and their textile traditions, includes Spanish vocabulary exposure, and finishes with a creative class activity where students get to design their own textile patterns.

LEARN ABOUT MOCHE CERAMICS FROM NORTHERN PERU

This hands-on and interactive presentation introduces students to the fine-line ceramic style of the Moche, a Pre-Columbian culture of 2000 years ago from the northern coast of Peru in South America. The presentation also includes Spanish vocabulary exposure, and finishes with a creative class activity where students get to design costumes to act out scenes depicted in the ceramic designs.

LEARN ABOUT CARNAVAL CELEBRATION IN BRAZIL

An interactive and interdisciplinary presentation on the famous Brazilian holiday of Carnaval that takes place each year in February. This workshop focuses on the costumes, music, and dance that take place, as well as a brief historical overview of the origins of the celebrations and its geographic diversity.