3RD GRADE: PANAMA MOLAS

3rd graders learned about Molas in art class. Molas are brightly colored fabric pieces that are sewn onto clothing in Panama as decoration. The fabric is stitched together in layers to created colored line patterns. Most molas have subjects such as animals and nature. Students chose their subject and got to work on theses beautiful pieces.

3RD GRADE: OAXACAN ANIMALS

3RD GRADE: NAVAJOWEAVING

After watching a video about Master Navajo weavers from Southwestern USA, students were eager to begin weaving with yarn.

To start weaving on their loom, students had to first add their warp yarns. These yarns run from top to bottom.

After these were on, they began weaving their weft yarns which run left to right. Students had to practice a plain weave for their first 2 color choices. This weave is just the basic over one under one pattern.

 After they got the hang of the basics, I showed them how to add beads, tie on loops and use other materials such as ribbon and raffia to weave.

When they were finished with their weaving they learned to take the weaving off the loom by cutting and tying, 2 at a time,  the warp strings at the bottom.

The loops at the top of the weaving can simply be slipped off of the notches. Students could trim their long weft yarns if desired or add beads to the fringes!

2nd GRADE: LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS

 

3RD GRADE: OAXACAN ANIMALS

3rd grade students learned about  Wood Carvings that are made by decedents of the Zapotec Indians of Oaxaca, Mexico. They watched a video of renowned wood carver Zeny Fuentes making a wood carving of an armadillo. They learned that he likes to create a sense of movement in his carvings along with painting them with colorful patterns.



Students began with a ball of Model Magic and an animal in mind. They used separate pieces of model magic to form a body, head, legs, tail and ears.

After their animal was created, they let it dry so that the Model Magic would become hard and easier to paint.

I also used this lesson as an opportunity to teach color theory and color mixing. Students mixed their colors on paper palettes. They were encouraged to experiment with the mixing to see what colors they could make.

For the first week of painting,  students painted their animal a background color. They could paint the different parts different colors if they chose.

During the second week of painting, after the background color has dried, students created patterns on their animals. They learned by watch Zeny that dots are an important pattern used by the Zapotec Indians on their carvings. Using the tip of the handle of their brushes made excellent dots!

These are some of the finished Oaxacan animals!

To learn more about Zeny Fuentes and Oaxacan Wood Carving visit: http://www.zenyfuentes.com/

6TH GRADE: NATIVE AMERICAN CLAY PLATES

Students began the lesson by choosing their design pieces/ideas from a handout packet of common Native American symbols and pictures. They drew their idea on a circle that was the same size as their plastic plate mold. Considerations for colors were also thought about for this step. Earth colors were used as color choices.

                      During the next class, students used the slab method to roll out a flat piece of clay that was the same thickness using a rolling pin. After they rolled out their slab, they needed to make sure that the slab was big enough to press into and cover the plate mold.

The next step was to carefully press the clay into a
plastic plate mold and trim the excess clay from the edges.

The  students used various clay tools to draw/carve 

their design into the clay plate.

 On the 3rd class after the plates were bisque fired to make them stronger and less likely to break, the students glazed their plates.

 Here are a few of the finished plates!