Miraculous Milagros
Design a good-luck charm as you craft silver-like jewelry. Remember—or hope for—something special in your life with these tiny cultural symbols.
1. Milagros are small, symbolic metal charms. The literal translation for milagro is miracle. Milagros are used in several cultures to ask or to give thanks for favors. The charms are usually shaped like an item or event. For instance, if you have a favorite pet, your milagro might be shaped like a dog or cat.
2. Other cultures use milagros as good-luck charms or jewelry. Some of the oldest charms have been found in Greece and Rome, where silver and gold were shaped into tiny masterpieces. Today, milagros are also treasured in the Hispanic Americas, as well as Mediterranean countries including Italy and Spain. Learn more about the religious and cultural customs associated with milagros.
3. To create your very own milagros, use Crayola Model Magic® to create a small shape that has a special meaning for you. Cover the Model Magic with aluminum foil. Glue the ends of the foil in place if necessary. Air-dry the glue.
4. Use Crayola Gel Markers to decorate your milagro. If you wish, glue on a pin back or clip so you can take your milagro with you.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—
- Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
- Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
- Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
- The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
- Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
- Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
- Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.
- List several different milagro symbols and the ideas with which they are associated.
- Children with special needs may find it helpful to see pictures of milagros and talk about their wishes first.
- Research Latino tin crafts and create them.
- Assessment: Students write short stories or poems describing the symbolism of their milagros.
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