Weaving

This week, the students learned about weaving. During the presentation part of the lesson I had two main goals. First, we talked about weaving traditions from around the world. Weaving such a basic technology, that almost all cultures do it, but weaving is also so flexible and adaptable, that every culture can have their own style. I showed the students pictures of weaving from different cultures, and we compared and contrasted them, and discussed factors that create those differences, such as available resources and intended purpose.

The second goal was to talk about the Navajo tribe. They were just beginning a unit about Native American cultures, so this was a good way to connect this to what they were learning. We talked about were they live, and about how they use weaving as a way to preserve their culture. We also learned how to say “Hello” in the Navajo language.

Then we started the activity. I had already made the looms and cut the yarn ahead of time, but I had the students string their own looms. They did a great job paying attention, but students would often get lost or miss a step. I think that it would have helped to have prepared clearer directions. When we started the weaving stage, it tricky to keep students all on the same page. By the end of class, some were on their second piece of string, while others were only on the second row.

Overall, the lesson went really well. None of the students gave up, even after making mistakes. Once they got the hang of it, they really got into it. Some of them didn’t want to leave for recess, which is always the best compliment.

#artsbridge #elementaryschool #socialstudies #textiles

Sand Mandalas

Last week was my second time teaching. And this time, I remembered the pictures.

Lesson Connections and Applications

For these lessons, I am focusing on projects that can help teach students about different cultures and ways of thinking. This first week the focus was on Sand Mandalas and Tibetan Buddhism.

This lesson was really fun (but also kind of hard) to create because there are so many ideas that I could talk about in this lesson. It was important that I teach the kids about a new culture, Tibet, and religion, Buddhism. It seems to me like Eastern traditions and cultures aren't emphasized as much as Western ones. So I try to introduce them when I can. Particularly Buddhism, because it is the 4th largest religion in the world.

This lesson was also a chance to discuss what art is and why it is made. Sand mandalas are swept away once they are completed, which goes against more traditional understandings of art. Sand mandalas expose students to art as meditation and art as an action or process.

My favorite part of this lesson is that it lets the kids go outside and run wild, while still doing something productive.

Besides those, there are many other ideas to tie into this lesson, depending on the student’s grade level, including radial symmetry, living and non-living matter, natural processes like wind and rain, the damage of littering, how to cooperate and communicate, etc.

Teaching the Lesson

The kids were definitely surprised when I told them that monks spend days making beautiful art but then they just sweep it away when done. But they picked up on it really quickly. We had a great discussion about art.

They loved going outside and making the mandalas. They did a great job!

Lesson Plan

Powerpoint

#artsbridge #elementaryschool #lessonplan #socialstudies #newmedia #outside #science #math