The Coqui is a small tree frog native to the island of Puerto Rico. This tiny frog is named after the sound it makes as its mating call (Coqui)! From sunset to sunrise, you can hear the chorus of the coqui all over Puerto Rico! This frog is also the symbol for Puerto Rican cultural heritage and pride, both in Puerto Rico and with Hispanic Americans of Puerto Rican descent. This art lesson is great for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and requires minimal materials. I used black permanent marker, watercolor paint, and color pencils to finish up, but these can work as a color pencil and marker drawing as well!
On day one, I showed students pictures of coqui and some examples of its use as a cultural symbol. Then, we did a guided drawing of a tree frog with Sharpie. I used the steps found at “Art Hub for Kids”, modified slightly for 2nd grade. You can find those steps here: How to Draw a Tree Frog. I also showed students lots of image resources on plants, flowers, and scenery in Puerto Rico to help them decide how to complete their drawings.
Once the Sharpie drawings were complete, students started adding color with watercolor paints. I emphasized good painting habits (painting an area in all the way, allowing colors to “bleed,” and loading the right amount of water and paint for smaller vs. larger areas). If students were not able to finish in two classes, I gave a small amount of time in a 3rd class to finish up with color pencils and Crayola color sticks. My classes are 45 minutes long.