Easy Nazca Lines Craft for Kids
Inside: Nazca Lines craft for kids learning about Peruvian culture and history.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, 2017! At the end of this post, find our Multicultural Kid Blogs HHM giveaway for some fun prizes. Today I’m sharing an exploratory Nazca lines craft. The project gives hands-on feel for these marvels of Peru, and how they were made.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support!
In the Peruvian desert, there’s an unsolved mystery: deep lines, etched into the sand, that form pictures. You can find a monkey, a hummingbird, a spider, geometric shapes, and more. They can only be seen from far above, and are at least 1500 years old—perhaps older. Why are these mammoth shapes there? How were they designed and thought of, at a time before airplanes? No one knows, though there are many theories. We just know they’re a fascinating puzzle! The Nazca lines are one of the reasons it’s so interesting to explore Peru.
If you’d like to learn more, check out the links below. Otherwise, Nazca Lines Craft”>click here to skip to the craft!
WHAT ARE THE NAZCA LINES?
The Lines of Nasca, from National Geographic Information and Lots of Pictures from Atlas Obscura Brief overview:
Short BBC Introduction to the Nazca Lines (17:54 min.):
Documentary of the Nazca Lines (45 min.):
Documentary in Spanish (27 min.):
NAZCA LINES CRAFT
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Sand (3 Pounds | Real Sand | Natural Color | For Interior Decor, Vase Filler, Sand Crafts, Nautical Theme Design, and More“>best if you can get thick, uneven sand)
Glue Cardstock Paper Creative Arts by Charles Leonard Stubby Flat Paint Brushes, Assorted Colors, 10/Set (73290)“>
Thick, flat paintbrush Watercolor paint brush (or something with a fine, round tip)
Red paint and brown paint, optional
WHAT TO DO
First, make the background to the lines: the desert. This desert is covered with a layer of reddish stones. Begin by mixing the paint and glue. Use about half as much glue as paint. If you want, mix some red and brown paint so it looks more like the real desert.
Using a thick brush, spread the mixture all over the paper. Now you have your desert!
Next, etch drawings into the sand. You can imitate the original drawings (find examples here), or you can come up with your own designs. Use the end tip of the watercolor brush to clear away the sand mixture and create a design. Make sure to do this right away, before the sand and glue dry. Just like the original creators of the Nazca lines cleared away the top layer of reddish pebbles, you’ll let the white under-layer show through.
My little ones at home just made up their own designs!
If you are fascinated by Peru and want to learn more, check out my All About Peru mini-book or 10 Fun Facts about Peru post. If you are looking for more Nazca Lines crafts or projects, try this Nazca STEM Project from All Done Monkey as well!
Like it? Pin it!
We are so excited for our sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month series and giveaway! Through the month (September 15 – October 15), you’ll find great resources to share Hispanic Heritage with kids, plus you can enter to win in our great giveaway and link up your own posts on Hispanic Heritage!
September 15 Embracing Diversity on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About Dominican Republic
September 18 Spanish Mama: Nazca Lines – Exploratory Art Project
September 19 Hispanic Mama
September 21 Spanish Mama
September 22 Mundo Lanugo
September 25 Spanish Playground
September 26 All Done Monkey
September 27 Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes
September 29 Pura Vida Moms on Multicultural Kid Blogs
October 2 Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes on Multicultural Kid Blogs
October 5 Spanglish House
October 6 Mama Tortuga
Don’t miss all of the great posts from previous years as well: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH GIVEAWAY!
Giveaway begins September 15 and goes through October 15, 2017. Enter below for a chance to win one of these amazing prize packages! Some prizes have shipping restrictions. In the event that a winner lives outside the designated shipping area, that prize will then become part of the following prize package. For more information, read our full giveaway rules.
GRAND PRIZE
From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From World Music with Daria: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Musical Craft and Coloring E-Book From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app From Lectura Para Niños: A set of printable little readers, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. Designed to last the entire school year, with one new book each week plus several review weeks included throughout the set
1ST PRIZE
From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From World Music with Daria: Set of maracas and a Spanish fan – US Shipping Only From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app
2ND PRIZE
From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Uno, Dos, Tres, Andrés! (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From Lee and Low Books: Martí’s Song for Freedom/Martí y sus versos por la libertad; Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del arcoíris; Mamá the Alien/Mamá la extraterreste; Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo – US Shipping Only
3RD PRIZE
From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From Sarah Aroeste: A copy of the new Ladino/English bilingual picture book Ora de Despertar/Time to Wake Up – US Shipping Only
We are so excited for our sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month series and giveaway! Through the month (September 15 – October 15), you’ll find great resources to share Hispanic Heritage with kids, plus you can enter to win in our great giveaway and link up your own posts on Hispanic Heritage!
September 15 Embracing Diversity on Multicultural Kid Blogs: 10 Fun Facts About Dominican Republic
September 18 Spanish Mama: Nazca Lines – Exploratory Art Project
September 19 Hispanic Mama
September 20 Inspired by Family
September 21 Spanish Mama
September 22 Mundo Lanugo
September 25 Spanish Playground
September 26 All Done Monkey
September 27 Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes
September 29 Pura Vida Moms on Multicultural Kid Blogs
October 2 Discovering the World Through My Son’s Eyes on Multicultural Kid Blogs
October 5 Spanglish House
October 6 Mama Tortuga
Don’t miss all of the great posts from previous years as well: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH GIVEAWAY!
Giveaway begins September 15 and goes through October 15, 2017. Enter below for a chance to win one of these amazing prize packages! Some prizes have shipping restrictions. In the event that a winner lives outside the designated shipping area, that prize will then become part of the following prize package. For more information, read our full giveaway rules.
GRAND PRIZE
From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From World Music with Daria: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Musical Craft and Coloring E-Book From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app From Lectura Para Niños: A set of printable little readers, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet. Designed to last the entire school year, with one new book each week plus several review weeks included throughout the set
1ST PRIZE
From Mariana Iranzi: A digital copy of her new CD Primavera From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Arriba Abajo (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From World Music with Daria: Set of maracas and a Spanish fan – US Shipping Only From Gus on the Go: Spanish Alphabet Print (US Shipping Only) & single-use promo code for Spanish for kids language app
2ND PRIZE
From Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer: A print copy of Cántale a tu bebé with music download – US Shipping Only From 123 Andrés: A copy of the CD Uno, Dos, Tres, Andrés! (digital copy if outside the US) From Spanish Playground: Set of books, crafts, and toys from Latin America – US Shipping Only From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From Lee and Low Books: Martí’s Song for Freedom/Martí y sus versos por la libertad; Rainbow Weaver/Tejedora del arcoíris; Mamá the Alien/Mamá la extraterreste; Marisol McDonald and the Monster/Marisol McDonald y el monstruo – US Shipping Only
3RD PRIZE
From Carole P. Roman: Set of If You Were Me and Lived In… books on Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Portugal, and the Mayan Empire – US Shipping Only From Mister G: A copy of the new CD Mundo Verde/Green World (digital copy if outside the US) From Sarah Aroeste: A copy of the new Ladino/English bilingual picture book Ora de Despertar/Time to Wake Up – US Shipping Only
BONUS PRIZES
We are giving away an extra copy of the CD Mundo Verde/Green World from Mister G (US Shipping Only) and up to 10 digital downloads of this brand new album: Watch a video of the title track!
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/classic/19dbbbb/main.html
Link up your posts about sharing Hispanic heritage with kids!
1. 10 Fun Facts About Dominican Republic
3. Fun Ways To Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month With
4. 16 Great Children’s Books to Discover South Americ
5. 60 Kid-Friendly Hispanic Heritage Month Recipes
6. Spanish Onomatopoeia for Kids – Spanish Playground
7. Food from Latin America: Roots of Culture
8. Culture Activities for Spanish Class: La Arpillera
9. Spanish Greetings Game: Printable Board – Spanish
11. 33 Latino Middle Grade Chapter Books You Should Kn
12. Hispanic Heritage Month Book Review: Wonder –
14. Hispanic Inspired Crafts for Kids
15. Children’s Book about Puerto Rico
16. Notable Hispanic Figures: Thirty Days of Resources
17. Sharing Our Hispanic Heritage: Ideas Classroom
18. Hispanic Heritage Month Fiesta for Kids
19. Book Review of Chocolate Milk, Por Favor
20. Journey to Chile, the Longest Country in the World
21. Discovering Deserts & Desserts in Chile
22. Chile Independence Day & Rain Stick Craft
23. Respecting Chile & Each Other
24. Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico
25. Pura Belpré Award Winners 1996 – 2017
26. 2016 Américas Award Winning Children’s Books
27. Drum Dream Girl – Multicultural Book of the Month
28. 24 Children’s Books set in Mexico | Colours of Us
29. Top 10 Day of the Dead Children’s Books
30. Cuban History for Kids: Bilingual Book and Activit
31. 10 Most Used Medicinal Plants in Latin America
32. Costa Rican Food – 9 Best Recipes
33. Easy Day of the Dead Crafts for Spanish Class
The collection has closed. Let other people know about it through twitter.
BONUS PRIZES
We are giving away an extra copy of the CD Mundo Verde/Green World from Mister G (US Shipping Only) and up to 10 digital downloads of this brand new album: Watch a video of the title track!
https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/classic/19dbbbb/main.html
The collection has closed. Let other people know about it through twitter.
I love all of the cultural ideas that you share!
I’d like to do the Nazca sand art for my class of 14 students.
What are the measurements for each drawing for sand, paint and glue?
Thank you so much.
I use regular paper printer size.
Thank you, but how much sand does each student need and how much glue should be mixed in?