Skills Building: Pepe and the Parade (PK-5)

Written by Tracey Kyle and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega

Pre- Reading Questions 

  1. What does ‘celebrating community’ look like to you?
  2. Have you ever been to a parade in person? What did it feel like? How do you think others felt?
  3. If you celebrate, how do you celebrate Hispanic heritage? If not, do you have any ideas or guesses on how it is celebrated? 
  4. How can you start to celebrate your community more? Are there different ways you could celebrate?

Post- Reading Questions

  1. Why do you think Pepe was so excited for the parade?
  2. Where does Pepe find his pride for his community?
  3. How do you think a parade “celebrates community?”
  4. What types of feelings do you think Pepe, his friends, and his community experienced during the celebration of Hispanic heritage? 

Creative Enrichment Activity: Papel Picado (PK-5)

Overview

In the book Pepe and the Parade: Celebration of Hispanic Heritage, Pepe, his family, their friends and community members all join together to have a big parade and party to celebrate their culture. In this activity, we will create our own Papel Picado to celebrate communities and Hispanic heritage!

Materials

  • Tissue paper (pieces approximately 8.5” x 10”) or construction paper (construction paper can be used for younger students if tissue paper is too flimsy)
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Tape

Duration: 40 minutes (for staff: 5 pre-activity set up and 5 minute prep)

  • 5 minutes: Introduce the activity using the book and examples. Talk about Papel Picado
  • 15 minutes: Create Papel Picado out of multiple pieces of paper
  • 10 minutes: String together all pieces to make multiple banners 
  • 5 minutes: Clean up
  • 5 minutes: Reflect

Instructions

  1. Introduce the activity using the book and the examples. Have a group discussion about Papel Picado, and ask for student input and experiences
  2. Fold the paper into fourths “accordion style” starting at the top of the paper and folding back and forth until it is in fourths.
  3. Fold that in half.
  4. Cut in small designs on three of the edges; do not cut the “seam”/fold.
  5. Unfold the paper to see your design!
  6. Repeat as time permits.
  7. Tape the Papel Picado on the string to make banners to decorate the space.
  8. Clean up the materials. 
  9. Reflect as a group.

Reflection Questions

  • What are some ways that you celebrate in your community? 
  • What did you enjoy about this activity? 
  • What went well? What did not go well? 
  • We used all of our work to make something beautiful together. How does it feel to create as a community?