Mexico's Frida Khalo

1. Frida Khalo is an iconic Mexican painter known for her use of vibrant colors and self-portraits. Provide an opportunity for students to research and view Khalo's artwork. Discuss what is unique about her artwork. Why did she use herself as the subject in many of her works of art? How is Mexican culture embodied in her artwork?
2. Invite students to recreate a self-portrait of Frida Khalo using the vibrant, blendable colors of Crayola® Oil Pastels.
3. Students choose a representation of Mexican culture as a background for the portrait. The example shown here illustrates the bold colors of a Mexican serape.
4. Cut out the portrait with Crayola Scissors and mount it on the background with a Crayola Glue Stick.
5. To accompany each student's portrait, have them write a summary paragraph of their learning about the artist Frida Khalo. Display portraits on a classroom bulletin board with student writing.

LA: Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

LA: Compare and contrast one author’s presentation of events with that of another (e.g., a memoir written by and a biography on the same person).

SS: Explore ways that language, art, music, belief systems, and other cultural elements may facilitate global understanding or lead to misunderstanding.

SS: Describe personal connections to place – especially place as associated with immediate surroundings.

SS: Explore factors that contribute to one’s personal identity such as interests, capabilities, and perceptions.

VA: Students experience, analyze and interpret art and other aspects of the visual world.

Students create a self-portrait of themselves in the style of Frida Khalo.

Students choose a painting of Frida Khalo to analyze and interpret. Write a reflective essay on the meaning and purpose of the artwork.

Students study the work of Diego Rivera, Frida Khalo’s husband and famous Mexican artist. Compare and contrast their artistic styles.