Panama

Art: Molastype of colorful wall hanging with complex

patterns

means ‘shirt’ in the Kuna language

originated with the tradition of Kuna women painting their bodies with geometrical designs

handmade using a reverse application technique

Art: Molas

Art: Making a Paper Mola

Procedure: Choose 4 colors of paper. Cut out a design as the top piece. Choose a traditional Kuna Indian

design for a shape. Leaving a thin border, cut out the second color around the first shape. Glue the top to the

second layer. You can use paper clips to help hold the paper together when cutting the shapes. Then cut the third shape by layering the two glued shapes on top of the third. Glue all cut

pieces together, being sure to leave a thin border around each time you cut. Save the black for last, as that is the traditional top layer.

From the scraps of paper left, cut out and glue details for eyes, mouths, or other ornamental traditional designs.

Once the paper Molas are completed, have the children discuss their importance to the Kuna Indian women and their culture. Have children imagine making Molas using the traditional applique. Would the children in your class have the patience to spend hundreds of hours completing just one, as the Kunas often do? Display the paper Molas by mounting them onto a black piece of paper. Have children explain why they selected their island symbol as the focus of their own Molas.

  

Art: Pollera Festival Dressesthe Pollera is the most beautiful and admired

national costume

normally consists of a blouse or shirt and a two-tiered full skirt

motifs may be birds, flowers, fruit, vines, garlands or native designs of hand-sewn applique 

A tembleque for the hair is an exquisite tortoise shell comb embellished with pearls and gold that resembles a crown

ART:

Art: Panama Hats and Guayaberashirt

Art: Architecturechurches built in colonial Panama reflected the

styles of Spain at the time, leading to a large number of Baroque churches. The houses also reflected Spanish housing as many adopted a Spanish Mediterranean style with red tiled roofs.

greatest architectural achievement of the country came in the early 1900s though with the building of the Panama Canal (1880-1914).

Art

Art

Art: Golden Altar of San Jose Cathedral

Music

Panama is a country known for its multicultural and international ethnicity.

Popular Musical Styles: Salsa, Merengue, Pop,

Rock en Español, reggae, samba, jazz, and classical music

Music

Music: Tamborito

Panamanian Folk Music is usually accompanied with dancing

Music: Jazz Musicians

Danilo Perez

Music: Jazz MusiciansRuben Blades

Music: Senor Don Cato Was a Catis a children's song about a cat who is sitting on a roof when he discovers that his true love has agreed to marry him. In his excitement, he falls off and injures himself. The doctors are unable to save him and he dies. However, as his funeral procession passes through the market, the scent of fish from the market is so strong that he returns to life.This English version is familiar to generations of school-age children in North America and Central America. The lyrics are loosely translated from the traditional Spanish song "Estaba el señor Don Gato."

Music: Senor Don Cato Was a Cat

Assimilate information“Travel to Panama” Commercial:

Lesson for Elementary Students