3rd grade Molas

The third graders learned about a kind of art from Panama called Molas. Molas are layers of fabric sewn together as an appliqué for a shirt. Molas are made by the Kuna Indians in the San Blas islands off the coast of Panama. Usually Molas are animal designs sewn in layers of different colors.
We created our Molas by drawing an animal on colored paper,cutting it out and then glueing it on another color. When cut out again a border was left around the animal to see both colors. This was repeated until there was 5 layers. We glued the animal on black paper and decorated it with cut paper and hole punches.
**This project had a special meaning to me this year as my parents spent 2012 living in Panama. They brought me back a real mola which I shared with my 3rd graders.