Paper+flowers+and+Diego+Rivera

=Paper Flowers and Diego Rivera= This display turns an Allen Centre Winter into Spring! Materials are provided for children to decorate two trees covered in twinkling lights, with flowers and birds constructed using fan-folding and pinched-paper techniques. The techniques are further developed by making cone-based paper puppets, decorated imaginatively and brought to life in the puppet theatre.

The paper flowers trigger a journey into Mexico through Wiki links to the paper flower tradition associated with The Day of the Dead and the famous flower paintings of Mexican artist, Diego Rivera.
 * [[image:P1070372-1.JPG width="226" height="288"]] || [[image:P1070346-1.JPG width="225" height="286"]] ||
 * [[image:P1070352-1.JPG width="259" height="169"]] || [[image:P1070351-1.JPG width="255" height="179"]] ||
 * [[image:P1070354-1.JPG width="250" height="175"]] || [[image:P1070357-1.JPG width="254" height="165"]] ||

__In the Library:__ //Maria Molina and The Day of the Dead,// by Katherine Krull
(in English or Spanish):** ||
 * [[image:mexican_flowers.jpg width="218" height="293"]]
 * Mexican paper marigolds** || [[image:Mexicomap.gif width="286" height="222"]]
 * [| Learn more about Mexico]

__Make a Paper Puppet:__
Cut out two 1/4 circle shapes ||
 * [[image:P1070392-1.JPG width="180" height="252"]] || [[image:P1070387-1.JPG width="231" height="201"]] || [[image:P1070379-1.JPG width="238" height="204"]] ||
 * You will need: a pencil, coloured paper, scissors, glue stick, tape and felt pens**
 * [[image:P1070382-1.JPG width="191" height="267"]] || [[image:paperquart-1.JPG width="268" height="201"]]
 * Roll into cones and tape.

Fold over the end of one cone and tape to the inside of the other cone. || ||
 * [[image:bits-1.JPG width="247" height="185"]] || Cut out ears, eyes and hair.

Leave a tab on the end of each piece, which can be folded to attach to the puppet with tape.

Cut out some arms and attach them to the back with tape.

Experiment with different shaped eyes, ears and arms. Use strips of curled paper for hair. ||

Spanish language para los chiquitos (for kids):
On the first two days of November, Mexicans believe that the souls of the dead return. They celebrate their return by decorating little altars in their homes and family graves. Flower petals are strewn from the road to the altar to guide the family spirits home. The little altars inside are decorated with hundreds of flowers - especially marigolds and chrysanthemums. The spirits follow the strong smell and bright colours of these flowers to find their way in. Thousands of paper flowers are made in Mexico for The Days of the Dead. In Mexico these days are called //Los Dias de los Muertos.//

__Diego Rivera:__
Diego Rivera (1886-1957) was a Mexican painter who painted many colourful paintings and large murals (wall-paintings) showing everday life in Mexico. He chose especially to paint people in both the city and the countryside going about their work. He painted lots of pictures with flowers in them, mostly canna lilies.
 * [[image:Diego-Rivera-El-Vendedor-25747.jpg width="250" height="248"]]
 * The Flower Seller** || [[image:Flower_Day_1925b.jpg width="193" height="263"]]
 * Flower Day** ||