yarn weavings

Inspired by traditional Navajo weavings, the third graders created their own weaving on a cardboard loom. As students finished their weaving the chose to mount their weaving on tag board, hang it from a natural branch, bead the ends, or leave it flat like a blanket with finished ends.  Next year, I would probably do this earlier or later in the year and bring the class outdoors to work in the sun :)

Dot Paintings

The second grade students wrote a short story and painted an image inspired by aboriginal artworks. The paintings were framed with a pattern of construction paper squares creating a border.

Paper Cuts

Also inspired by the Otomi Indians, fourth graders created amate bark paper cuts of fictional characters inspired by creatures, plants, and animals.

Amate Bark Paintings

Bird Paintings inspired by Amate Bark paintings. I have always loved the bright pigments against the natural tones of the paper, and have always wanted to create/teach this lesson. When I began to look through all of the lessons/examples from the previous art teacher I found a good selection of amate bark paintings done in a variety of styles. These examples are from my first grade students.

Three day lesson...
Day 1- Introduction to project with visuals and sketching bird and plant designs
Day 2- crumple and unfold brown butcher paper squares (appox. 18 x 18) about five times, then iron.... yes first graders ironing- no accidents thankfully! Transfer sketch design onto "bark", trace over with thick sharpie or black tempera paint
Day 3- Paint bird patterns, ferns,  and border patterns with neon tempera paint and white/glow in the dark.

Birch BaRk BasKets

Inspired by the Ojibwa, the fourth graders created their own "birch bark" basket. First step is to develop paper with a similar texture to birch bark through the use of chalk and tempera paint on tag board. Next, practice measuring and cutting a basket shape (I had many examples- which some students used to create their template, but others came up with their own basket shape.) Practicing with a separate piece of paper helped my students work out the kinks in their designs before they started cutting and gluing their final piece of birch bark. The last step of the basket is to add decorative elements such as stitching, feathers, fabric cut designs, beads and painted symbols.

8th Grade "Masks From Around the World!"

 

The 8th grade students studied "masks from around the world!" and created a mask of their own based off of a theme of choice. I was impressed with the outcomes of the masks, as we were working in theme in class the students seemed to have "creative blocks." Big bummer, but the next class period it seemed to have been overcome because they were able to create some interesting concepts and solutions.

7th Grade Aboriginal Dreamtime Paintings

The 7th Grader's Studied Australian Aboriginal "Dreamtime" Paintings. Following one day of Aboriginal culture, traditions, music and arts the 7th grader's created their own "Dreamtime" painting that represented their own life. They used tempera paint and Que-Tips on Construction paper.