Learn Together

Cultural awareness and tradition play important roles in helping young children develop a positive sense of identity and build self-esteem.

Materials

  • Computer, tablet, or phone to watch the video
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Yellow marker, crayon, or colored pencil

Imagine Together

Did you know the island of Puerto Rico used to have a different name? The island was once called Borinquén, the name given by the first people who lived there, the Taino. Enjoy this story time of The Golden Flower: A Taino Myth From Puerto Rico by Nina Jaffe, and learn the Taino myth of how Borinquén (Puerto Rico) came to be. 

After you finish the video, make your own golden flower inspired from the one we find in the story!

  1. Fold your piece of paper into a square by folding the bottom left corner to the right side until your page is even. Then, cut the remaining paper off at the top. Unfold your paper. 
  2. Fold your square into a smaller square by folding once horizontally, and once vertically. 
  3. Make your small square into a triangle by folding the bottom right corner to the top left.
  4. Fold the top point of your triangle toward the middle of the base until your page is even.
  5. Now, hold your uneven triangle like an ice cream cone and cut off the ice cream.
  6. Open up your triangle so you see two triangles.
  7. Make this look like a flower petal by drawing a rounded edge. Cut on the line.
  8. Open up your paper to see your flower! 
  9. Color your flower yellow so it can be just like the golden flower that turns into the giant calabaza or pumpkin.
Visual instructions on how to make a golden flower

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