Native American Story Telling

For this activity, students got the chance to tell a story through symbols! We learned that Native Americans used buffalo hide and symbols to tell a story. Therefore, that was the main focus in this lesson. Our first step was to create our background. We were encouraged to use the colors of a sunset (red, orange, & yellow). We first got little sections of our white paper wet with water and then painted over it with watercolors. (wet-on-wet method) We set our background paper aside to dry. While it was drying, we were then instructed to start brainstorming ideas for a story. We had to use at least 6 symbols. Once we figured out a story, we drew the symbols on our “buffalo hide” (a precut paper bag that was soaked in water then dried to give it a crumpled look). After the symbols were drawn on, we glued the paper bag onto our sunset background.

My Native American story: On a bright sunny day, my family and I traveled by road to the river. Here, we caught fish! At nighttime, we made a campfire.

Extension activity: For social studies, students could look at some examples of old time stories and try to decode them by looking at the symbols. Another activity students could do with this is act out their story. I think they would have fun doing that!

Totem Pole Project

Fly

In this lesson, each student got to create a piece of a totem pole! To begin, we got to choose which animal we wanted to create. I chose to pick a fly. We got to color the little image we picked so we could refer back to it when making the bigger image. Our animal had to be symmetrical so we folded our paper in half so each side of it matched up. We were instructed to have at least one part of our animal be 3D. On my animal, I chose the tongue and the wings to be 3D. Since this activity was a group project, all of the people in our group had to decide on what color we wanted for our background. We chose brown. Once all of us in the group put brown paper behind our animal, we got to glue them together to make a totem pole! At the end, each of us had to make a notecard that included the following: our name, what our animal was and what is symbolized, and the types of colors we used.

Extension activities: Students could use this activity for social studies when discussing different tribes and cultures. Instead of using animals they could try making other symbols that represent a culture. The students could also create a poem about their totem pole. 

Cobra Knot Keychain

We started out the lesson learning about different kinds of knots. However, in this lesson we are specifically learning about the cobra knot. First, we got to practice making a cobra knot with yarn. After we practiced for a while, we got to change to our lace. We first attached a metal hook piece to the top of our keychain by tying a knot. We then proceeded to tie our cobra knot made out of 3 different colored strands. We had to make sure our strands weren’t twisted so that it all matched up at the end.

Extension activity: Students could use the same method but instead, make a bracelet or even a necklace. They could do themes too, such as, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, etc. 

Ideal Vacation Pop-up

Vacation in the Hills

In this lesson, students got to create a 3D vacation spot. We began the lesson by brainstorming different places we want to take a vacation. Next, we had to paint the background for our vacation. To do so, we took our 8.5x11 cardstock paper and folded it in half. We then used watercolors to paint the background. While it was drying, we were instructed to come up with the following objects to add to our scene: at least two 3D objects, two different textures, and one object in each of the fore, middle, and background. After the design was complete, we needed to write a description of our vacation on a notecard. We had to include our name, a title for the vacation, where it took place, who we went with, how we got there, and one thing we got to do there.

My vacation spot was in the Black Hills with my family. We drove there in a car, stayed in a warm, cozy cabin, and got to drive 4-wheeler through the hills.

Extension activities: For language arts, instead of having the students just write a short paragraph, they could write a short story about their vacation to go along with their craft. For math, the students could map out the distance and how long it would take for them to travel by car to get to their vacation spot. 

Ceramic Leaf Bowl

In this lesson, we got to make a ceramic bowl in the shape of a leaf. To do this, we needed clay. To get our clay ready, we had to knead it to get all the air bubbles out. We tossed it back and forth between our hands and also gently threw it down onto the table top. Each of us got to pick out a stencil of a leaf. (there were about 4 or 5 different types of leaves) Our next step was to roll out our clay big enough for our stencil to fit in it. We placed our leaf stencil on top of the clay and used a cutting tool to cut out the shape of the leaf. Next, we placed a sheet of paper towel in a Styrofoam bowl and set the clay leaf in the bowl. To even out the cracks or bumps in the clay, all we had to do was dab our finger in water and gently rub on the clay. Our last step was to paint and add a little detail to our leaf. Our teachers encouraged us to use falls colors. (red, orange, yellow, maroon) We had to let our clay bowl sit for 24 hours.

For my leaf bowl, I used the colors red, yellow, and orange. I also added a few lines to makes little veins in the leaf and a few tiny clay balls to make it look like it had water droplets on it.

Extension activities Students could make a different shapes out their clay and still form it into a bowl. For example, if the students were discussing the United States, they could form their clay into a state and try to put it in the bowl. They could also form the bowl into some kind of ball such as a basketball, football, soccer ball, etc. 

Scratch Art

For this activity, students created a scratch art project. To begin, students were instructed to color their piece of cardstock. They could either do primary colors or secondary colors. We had to make sure our cardstock was fully colored. After the coloring was complete, we painted over top of it with black paint. We needed to make sure that no colors were showing through the black paint. After the painting was done, we set it aside to dry. In the meantime, we were instructed to draw a landscape design on a sheet of white paper the same size as the cardstock paper. We then turned the piece of paper over and colored the back of it with pencil. We did this so we could put our plain sheet of paper over the cardstock and transfer the landscape design onto the black paint. To do so, we had to trace our landscape design again with pencil. This left pencil marks on our black paint. Then, we used our scratcher tool and went over our pencil marks, revealing the colors underneath the black paint. Once the whole design was revealed, we glued our piece of cardstock to a piece of construction paper.

For my project, I created a summer scene. I included grass, flowers, clouds and birds.

Extension activities: Since we created a picture, this activity could be used for any subject you want to create a picture for! If the students are reading a chapter book (older grades), they could draw a scene from one of the chapters for example. Students could also make representation of something in science, such as the water cycle or even a plant. 

Nature Mosaics

Flower mosaic

For this activity, students created a nature mosaic. All the students get divided into groups of 4. Each group has to work together to create a mosaic as a whole. Each group is given a picture that has been cut into 4 pieces. Each member of the group takes one of the pieces and has to try to form that picture. When all members of the group are done, they put their pieces together to make one big picture. My groups picture was a flower. Students also learn about warm and cool colors. For our project, we decided to put the flower in warm colors and the background in cool colors.

Extension activities: For language arts, students could write a poem or short story that goes along with their mosaic. For social studies or geography, students could make a map of the United States and have each member make a section of the country.