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Plan Number: 010
Title/Lesson/Theme:
Symbols in Textiles
Designed by: Ronda Sternhagen
Grade level/Discipline: 2nd/Art
Estimated Time: 2-40 minute class periods
Objectives (what will be assessed?):
1. The student will have the opportunity to participate in group discussion.
2. The student will demonstrate understanding of both African and American symbols through the culminating project.
Description/Background:
Students will view a slide show created from the Art and Life in Africa CD which will site examples of textiles and the use of symbols in those textiles. The following discussion will focus on the symbols and their meanings in the African culture, as well as reference given to American symbols and student knowledge of those symbols. In the culminating activity, students will create a textile-like paper cloth using their knowledge of symbols.
Step by Step Procedure:
1. Show slide show from the Art and Life in Africa CD. (I searched for Type: textile and included objects and field photos for my slide show. I narrowed the final slide show to 26 slides.)
2. Display African symbols sheet and discuss their meanings. Students will likely want to also discuss symbols common to the American culture. If applicable, make comparisons and contrasts between the African and American symbols.
3. Distribute 9x12" brown roll paper, permanent markers and newspapers. Students will use the markers to draw symbols and patterns in a symmetrical design on the brown paper. Be sure to put a newspaper underneath so that the marker doesn't bleed onto the table.
4. Flip the brown paper over and trace over the designs to make them as brilliant as on the front.
5. If desired, cut fringe on two or four sides.
6. Gently, but firmly, crumple the paper and unfold it a minimum of ten times to make it soft like cloth. This is the part that the kids love!
Assignment in CD (essays, chapters):
Studio Materials Needed:
9x12" brown roll paper, permanent markers, scissors, newspapers
Vocabulary:
attire, raffia, warp, weft (All as defined in the glossary of Art and Life in Africa CD.)
pattern, symbol, symmetrical
Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?:
Completion of step by step procedure, creativity, use of symbols, teacher observation
Bibliography/Alternative resources:
Websites:
Submitted 7/21/98