Welcome to the NHCC Art Museum and Visual Arts Program!
Here, we….
…. take pride in sharing artworks by Hispanic, Chicana/o, Latinx, and Latin American artists while working towards a more equitable and just world.
…. hold space for storytelling and meaningful community representation.
…. address the underrepresentation of artists of color in American art.
Part of our mission includes developing educational materials about the styles, processes, and history of the artists and artworks represented at the NHCC. In this lesson plan and activity collection, you will find a variety of topics to engage learners. Take a look and let us know what you think!
Visual Arts Lesson Plans
How Museums Work
An entire world awaits inside the walls of a museum. Exciting discoveries, beautiful artwork, careers in the arts . . . the list is endless! This lesson theme is perfect for introducing your students (and yourself) to the wonderful world of museums.
The Collection Connection: Become a Curator
The Collection Connection: Become a Curator lesson plan is for students of all ages and covers Visual Arts and Language Arts content areas. With this lesson plan, students will learn about museum curators and exhibits, create two original works of art that relate to a specific theme, and curate their peers’ artwork.
Design Your Own Museum
Museums are places that tell stories, facilitate experiences, and educate communities about a variety of subjects. There are many different types of museums here in New Mexico and around the world. The Design Your Own Museum lesson plan challenges students to consider what their own museum could look like and includes visual arts and mathematics standards.
Additional Resources
Ask a Curator—Jadira Gurulé
Learn more about the curatorial process from an NHCC Art Museum Exhibition Curator: Jadira Gurulé! This interview can be enjoyed on its own or as a supplement to the How Museums Work lesson plan series.
Inspired by Artists
This lesson plan collection finds its inspiration from artists whose work is in the NHCC Art Museum permanent collection. The Art Museum’s growing collection is currently home to over 3000 artworks from around the globe. Each artwork reflects the diversity of the Latina/o/x experience in all of its vibrant creativity and the artists utilize a range of media and materials.
Inspired by Patssi Valdez
Inspired by the artist Patssi Valdez, this lesson plan consists of three activities for students and covers Visual Arts and Speaking and Listening content areas. Through this lesson plan, students can learn about Patssi Valdez and her artistry while creating art of their own.
Make a Piñata
Inspired by the piñateros and their piñatas featured in the NHCC Art Museum’s permanent collection, explore the long-standing tradition of piñata-making in your classroom using materials found at home! The activity included in this lesson plan is not an example of traditional piñata making but rather a modern take using recyclable materials.
Celebrations
This collection of lesson plans explores a wide range of holiday traditions and celebrations from a variety of regions and cultures!
Día de los Muertos | Day of the Dead
Día de los Muertos, Oaxaca, México
A lesson plan for all ages that covers Visual Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics content areas. Make a Tapete! explores the tradition of making tapetes de arena (colorful artworks made out of sand) which are most commonly found in Oaxaca, México.
Festival de Barriletes Gigantes, Guatemala
The lesson plan Make a Barrilete! centers on the Guatemalan Festival de Barriletes Gigantes and is for all ages, centering on the content areas of Visual Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, and Science. Barriletes gigantes, or giant kites, soar high above open fields and cemeteries in this colorful observance that celebrates the memory of deceased family and friends, honors Mayan traditions, and addresses contemporary social issues.
La Calabiuza, El Salvador
La Calabiuza is an El Salvadoran festival that is over 100 years old and blends the Catholic holy day of All Saints Day (brought over by the Spaniards in the 1500s) with Indigenous traditions. This lesson plan is for all ages and covers the content areas of Visual Arts, Language Arts, and Social Studies. Students will learn about El Salvadoran myths and the structure of myths, and then design their own mythological characters.
Visual Arts Activities
Hands on Cultura
Join us at home or on the go, using these wonderfully accessible activities for learners of all ages.
How Museums Work
What is a Museum! | ¿Qué es un Museo?
Learn about museums with this wonderful bilingual activity that focuses on planning, designing, and building a model museum out of recycled materials.
The Collection Connection! | ¡La conexión con una colección!
Practice your curatorial skills in this bilingual activity, which explores an important element of museum work: curating.
Ask a Curator—Jadira Gurulé
Learn more about the curatorial process from an NHCC Art Museum Exhibition Curator: Jadira Gurulé! This interview can be enjoyed on its own or as a supplement to the How Museums Work lesson plan series.
Inspired by Artists
Make a Piñata Mural or Sculpture! | ¡Haz una Piñata/Escultura!
Inspired by artist Justin Favela, this bilingual activity guides learners of all ages through the process of making a piñata mural or sculpture.
Make a Collage! | ¡Haga un Collage!
Inspired by artist Valerie Roybal, this bilingual activity focuses on making collages and exploring different collage-making techniques.
Create a Rhythmic Work of Art | Crea una obra de arte rítmica
Inspired by artist Charles Fresquez, this bilingual activity helps learners create a work of art using colorful paper.
Let’s Weave! | ¡Vamos a Tejer!
Inspired by art in the NHCC Art Museum Permanent Collection, this bilingual activity guides creators through weaving their own masterpiece.
Recycled Piñatas! | ¡Piñatas Recicladas!
Inspired by the piñateros and their piñatas featured in the NHCC Art Museum’s permanent collection, explore the long-standing tradition of piñata-making using recycled materials in this bilingual activity!
Design Your Own Shapeshifter! | ¡Diseña tu propio cambiaformas !
In NHCC’s exhibit, Fronteras del Futuro: Art in New Mexico and Beyond, some of the artworks include “shapeshifters,” or beings that can change their form or embody multiple forms at the same time. Follow along on this bilingual activity to create your own shapeshifter! Need help finding images? Click on the button “Shapeshifter Image Collection” for downloadable images.
Celebrations
This collection of lesson plans explores a wide range of holiday traditions and celebrations from a variety of regions and cultures!
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS | DAY OF THE DEAD
Make a Tapete! | ¡Haz un Tapete!
The bilingual activity Make a Tapete! | ¡Haz un Tapete! explores the tradition of making tapetes de arena (colorful artworks made out of sand) which are most commonly found in Oaxaca, México.
Make Barriletes! | ¡Hacer barriletes!
This bilingual activity focuses on the Guatemalan Festival de Barriletes Gigantes and guides you through the process of making your own barrilete, or kite.
Draw a Myth/Legend! | ¡Dibuja un mito/leyenda!
This bilingual activity, centered around La Calabiuza, an El Salvadoran celebration, provides information about three El Salvadoran myths and legends and guides you through the process of brainstorming and drawing your own myth or legend.
DÍA DE LOS REYES | DÍA DE LOS REYES MAGOS | THREE KINGS’ DAY
Make a Crown! | ¡Hagan una corona!
This bilingual activity explores Día de los Reyes or Día de los Reyes Magos (three kings’ day), also known as the Epiphany, which is celebrated on January 6th across Latin America, in Spain, and by Latinx communities around the world. Follow the procedure to make your own crown and learn more about the celebration.
VALENTINE’S DAY | DÍA DE SAN VALENTÍN
Write an Erasure Poem | Escribe una Poesía de Borrado
Become a poet and celebrate Valentine’s Day with this exciting exploration of erasure poetry!
NHCC Valentine’s Day Mad Lib!
Brought to you by the NHCC Visual Arts Department, this Valentine’s Day Mad Lib is a fun activity to try with at least two people.
Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Card! | ¡Tarjeta Emergente de San Valentín!
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this bilingual card-making activity.