April 20, 2023
The majority of the students attending the elementary school were third and fourth generation immigrants to the United States. Many of their ancestors immigrated to the U.S. as part of the Mexican Revolution, others where crossed by the border when it was moved south. To reclaim this familial history, students completed a Nopal Family Roots activity where they traced their genealogy back to their families experience with border crossing. Teachers were able to use the Nopal Family Roots as cultural artifacts within their classrooms in preparation for Ballet Nepantla. The other activity that the students and families participated in was building their own personal terrarium. Our partner, the Botanical Gardens of San Antonio, led this activity and taught the families about the different soil and plants in our local region. Each student was given the book, Growing an Artist, by John Parra which tells the story of a young boy learning about his father who is a landscaper and the creativity and artistry that goes into that work.
