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Plan Number: 039
Title/Lesson/Theme: Textiles convey meaning through the use of pattern and color.
Designed by: Stephanie Hnesh
Grade level/Discipline: Grade 2/Art and Social Studies
Estimated Time: 2 40-minute periods
Objectives (what will be assessed?):
The student will:
-Begin to develop an understanding of the relationship between different colors and patterns, and the messages they convey to a group of people.
-Be exposed to a variety of messages through African textiles.
-Discuss colors and their meanings both for their own culture, and for the Asante people.
-Communicate a message to their own classroom community by choosing colors for a particular Kente design (based on the message they want to convey) and sharing the message with their community
-Develop both a pattern and color scheme that will convey a message using nonverbal communication about a family celebration they participate in.
Description/Background:
These lessons are part of a second grade unit on Africa, in which the children explore the geography and culture of the continent in a literature-based approach. The children are exposed to spinning, dyeing, and weaving, as well as how different fabrics are worn for different celebrations. In a broader context, the children relate much of what they learn about one country to another, and so textiles are looked at as they study Mexico, Japan, and their own culture as well.
This experience will provide them with a hands-on experience in creating and expressing meaning using nonverbal communication, as well as develop a better understanding of the cultural comparisons that we can make.
Step by Step Procedure:
DAY ONE
-Read Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, by John L. Steptoe, Clarita Kohen (Translator), (or other African tale with mention of Kente cloth)
-Discuss story, with particular emphasis on Kente cloth worn by daughters, and colors they notice in the story
-View Slide Show with the class, paying particular attention to COLOR and PATTERN (click here to view or download sample slide show list)
-Discuss during the slide show particular colors that they notice more often than others
-Choose a Kente Cloth pattern (see materials for book title) and choose colors for their individual design
DAY TWO
-Read The Rag Coat by Ö..
-Discuss story, and how it relates to fabric conveying meaning/evoking memories
-Come up with a list of family celebrations in which they participate, and share the feelings/stories evoked by these celebrations by developing their own designs.
Assignment in CD (essays, chapters):
Slide Show list (click here to view or download sample slide show list)
Studio Materials Needed:
Coloring Materials
Vocabulary:
Kente Cloth, Asante, Loom, Weaving
Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?:
Small Group/Whole Group discussion
Completion/Presentation of Design, along with explanation of meaning
Bibliography/Alternative resources:
Websites:
Submitted 7/28/98