When I was a kid, looking at a map was always a source of amusement. I often wondered if the people in Hungary were always hungry, or if Greece was slippery and greasy. But my favorite theory was about Chile. I was convinced that everyone there loved eating spicy chili peppers, and it must have been easy for them to cool down because the country is a long, thin strip right next to the ocean!
Of course, those were just childish jokes. As a grown-up, I’ve come to appreciate the rich, vibrant, and resilient history of these nations. It is something I love passing down to the next generation.
With September 18th marking Chile’s Independence Day, there is no better time to explore this beautiful South American nation. From the peaks of the Andes to the mysteries of Easter Island, Chile offers a treasure trove of inspiration for creativity.
Below, we’ve compiled a guide to the history of “The Long Country” and 15 engaging Chile crafts for kids that act as perfect educational tools.
A Brief History: When Did Chile Gain Independence?
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, it is important to understand the why behind the celebration.
For hundreds of years, Chile was a colony ruled by the Spanish Empire. The head of state wasn’t a local leader, but a Spanish Governor who acted as a direct representative of the King. However, the spirit of freedom began to rise in the early 1800s.
The Chilean people decided they wanted to govern themselves. This desire for liberty sparked a long struggle. A rebel group was formed, leading to years of battles. While they didn’t officially win total independence until 1818, the spark that started the fire happened on September 18, 1810.
This date marks the first Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile, and it is why September 18th is the day chosen for the massive national birthday bash.
How is Independence Day Celebrated?
If you visit Chile in mid-September, you are in for a treat. The celebration is called Las Fiestas Patrias (Patriotic Parties), often referred to simply as “El Dieciocho” (The Eighteenth).
- A Week of Fun: It isn’t just a one-day event. Schools and businesses often close for a full week.
- Fondas: These are temporary venues set up specifically for the holiday, featuring food, drinks, and live music.
- Tradition: People dress in traditional huaso (cowboy) attire, dance the Cueca (the national dance), and enjoy massive parades.
Since most of us can’t hop on a plane to Santiago for the week, we can bring the Fiestas Patrias to our homes and classrooms through art.
15 Creative Chile Crafts for Kids
These crafts are designed to cover the geography, wildlife, history, and symbols of Chile. They are perfect for homeschooling units, classroom geography lessons, or a fun afternoon activity.
1. The Chilean Bellflower (Copihue)
Chile’s national flower is the Lapageria rosea, known locally as the Copihue. It is a stunning, bell-shaped red flower named after Empress Josephine (Napoleon’s wife), who was an avid botanist. Interestingly, these don’t grow in manicured gardens but are found hanging from vines in the deep forests of Southern Chile.
- The Craft: Use recycled egg cartons to create the bell shape. Paint them a vibrant red. Poke a hole in the bottom and thread a green pipe cleaner through to act as the stem. You can create a whole vine of these to decorate your classroom!
2. Fluffy Andean Llama
You cannot talk about the Andes Mountains without mentioning the Llama. These animals are vital to the region, capable of carrying 25% of their body weight and providing wool for warm clothing in extreme winters. Ancient rock art in the Taira Valley depicts how important these animals have been for over 2,000 years.
- The Craft: Cut a llama silhouette out of sturdy cardstock or a paper plate. The fun part is the texture—have kids glue white cotton balls or white yarn loops all over the body to mimic the llama’s thick, wooly coat. Add colorful yarn blankets to their backs to represent traditional Andean textiles.
3. The Atacama Rainstick
Chile is home to the Atacama Desert, widely considered the driest place on Earth. In some areas, the average rainfall is less than 0.6 inches per year! This harsh environment is believed to be the birthplace of the rainstick. Indigenous people originally used dried cactus tubes filled with pebbles to mimic the sound of rain, using the instrument in rituals to pray for water.
- The Craft: Use a long cardboard mailing tube or taped-together paper towel rolls. Hammer small nails or insert toothpicks in a spiral pattern along the tube (this slows down the falling filling). Fill it with rice or dried beans, seal the ends, and decorate the outside with tribal patterns using markers or paint.
4. Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Moai Statues
One of the most mysterious places on earth is Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean. It is famous for the Moai—massive stone heads and torsos carved by the Rapa Nui people centuries ago.
- The Craft: Modeling clay or salt dough is perfect for this. Have children look at pictures of the Moai and try to sculpt the distinct features: the heavy brow, the elongated nose, and the thin lips. For a lighter version, you can use grey construction paper to build 3D paper models.
5. The “Lone Star” Flag Mosaic
The Chilean flag looks somewhat similar to the state flag of Texas. It features a blue square with a white star (representing a guide to progress and honor), a white stripe (for the snow-covered Andes), and a red stripe (for the blood shed during the fight for independence).
- The Craft: Draw the outline of the flag on a large sheet of paper. Instead of coloring it, have kids tear up small pieces of red, white, and blue construction paper or tissue paper. Glue these “mosaic tiles” into the correct sections. It helps with fine motor skills and teaches the flag’s symbolism.
6. Mapuche Silver Jewelry (Replica)
The Mapuche are the largest indigenous group in Chile. They are renowned for their incredible silverworking skills, creating large, intricate chest pieces and headbands.
- The Craft: Cut shapes out of cardboard (crescents and circles are common). Wrap them smoothly in aluminum foil to create a “silver” look. Use dull pencils to emboss patterns into the foil, then string them together with yarn to make necklaces or headpieces.
7. The Andean Condor Puppet
The Condor is the national bird of Chile and holds a place of honor on the national Coat of Arms. It is one of the largest flying birds in the world.
- The Craft: Create a paper bag hand puppet. Paint the bag black, add a white “collar” of paper around the neck (a distinct feature of the Condor), and a beak. Glue on large paper wings that the kids can flap.
8. Salt Dough Map of “The Long Country”
Chile is geographically unique because it is incredibly long and narrow. It stretches over 4,300 km (2,670 miles) north to south but averages only 177 km (110 miles) wide!
- The Craft: Make a batch of salt dough. Have kids shape the country of Chile on a piece of cardboard. It’s a great lesson in topography. They can build up the dough on the right side to represent the Andes Mountains and keep it flat on the left for the coast. Once dry, paint the different climate zones (desert in the north, green in the middle, icy blue in the south).
9. Arpillera Style Collage
Arpilleras are a traditional Chilean folk art. They are burlap tapestries that tell the story of daily life, often stitched together by women in community groups.
- The Craft: You don’t need to sew! Use a piece of burlap or rough fabric as the base. Have kids cut shapes out of felt or fabric scraps—houses, trees, suns, people—and glue them onto the base to create a scene from their own daily life or a Chilean landscape.
10. Cueca Dancers Paper Dolls
The Cueca is the national dance of Chile. It represents the courting ritual between a rooster and a hen. The dancers wave white handkerchiefs in the air as they circle each other.
- The Craft: Cut out paper dolls. Dress them in traditional clothing: a flowery dress for the woman and a poncho and straw hat for the man. The most important accessory? Glue a small square of white tissue paper to their hands to represent the handkerchief.
11. Clay “Chanchitos” (Three-Legged Pigs)
In the village of Pomaire, Chile, artisans are famous for their clay pottery. A popular lucky charm is the Chanchito, a small three-legged pig. They are traditionally given to friends as a token of good fortune.
- The Craft: Using air-dry clay, have the kids sculpt small pigs. The trick is to give them only three legs! It’s a fun challenge and a great cultural conversation starter about luck and friendship.
12. Paper Empanadas
You cannot celebrate Fiestas Patrias without Empanadas de Pino (pastries filled with meat, onions, olives, and egg).
- The Craft: Use light brown felt or construction paper cut into circles. Place some “filling” (scraps of colored paper or cotton) in the center. Fold the circle in half and practice “crimping” the edges closed with glue or staples. These make great additions to a play kitchen!
13. Volcano Eruption Art
Chile is part of the “Ring of Fire” and has roughly 500 active volcanoes.
- The Craft: Draw a volcano on sturdy paper. Mix baking soda, red paint, and a little water in a cup. Use a dropper to drop vinegar onto the painting (or do the classic science experiment version with a clay volcano). It helps visualize the geological power of the region.
14. Pinguino de Humboldt (Toilet Roll Craft)
While we associate penguins with Antarctica, the Humboldt Penguin lives along the coast of Chile and Peru.
- The Craft: Paint a toilet paper roll black. Add a white oval for the belly and orange feet. The Humboldt penguin has a distinct black stripe across its white chest, so be sure to draw that in to make it scientifically accurate!
15. The “Palin” Stick
The Mapuche people play a game called Palin (or Chueca), which is very similar to field hockey. It was traditionally used to resolve conflicts between communities or as a ritual ceremony.
- The Craft: Find a stick with a curve (or cut a shape out of cardboard). Decorate the stick with painted geometric patterns and wool wrappings. Discuss how sports can be used to bring people together.
Why Cultural Crafts Matter
Engaging in these crafts is about more than just keeping little hands busy. When a child makes a rainstick, they learn about the climate of the Atacama. When they sculpt a Moai, they touch upon the mysteries of ancient civilizations.
By celebrating Chile’s Independence Day through art, we teach our children that the world is a vast, diverse, and fascinating place.
