Here is an idea that popped into my head - especially since we were
talking about what to do with toilet paper tubes.
Students make "Spirit Figures" to teach about their own culture
(Character Education lesson too).
Big Ideas:
Cultures present their beliefs and values in their art
Cultures use figures to teach lessons to the children
Cultures use materials that are available to make art
Materials:
Toilet paper tubes, short pieces of 3/8" dowel rods (cut for legs),
cardboard scraps, making tape, tacky glue, aluminum foil, paper mache
supplies (or plaster craft), tissue paper and gloss medium (or
paints), fabric scraps, feathers, beads-gems - assorted
embellishments, fabric scraps
Objective:
Make a spirit figure to represent culture
Learn about use of figures in teaching in various cultures
Learn sculpture techniques of paper mache (or Paris craft)
Write about art
1. Students brainstorm on what is important to them. What stories of
their culture would they want to pass down to future generations? What
character traits are important?
2. Students make a figure to represent these beliefs/values using the
collection of materials you have on hand. The Toilet paper tube is the
basic body armature. Glue/tape on legs - add cardboard arms
(reinforced with wire) - cardboard feet so figure will stand. Build
up with foil. Use plaster craft addition or paper mache (with pulp).
Figures could be human form or animal.
3. When dry - apply tissue paper coloring or paint - then embellish
with the materials you have on hand.
4. Students write about the lessons their sculptures teach
AFTER the art making, present spirit figures from many cultures
(African, Native American etc) - including the Hopi Kachinas
(katsinas). Discuss the history and purposes of these figures.
Students can then compare and contrast their art making activity to
the examples you presented. In this type of lesson, students are NOT
making toilet paper roll Kachinas. They are making figures that
represent their OWN culture. Since you are not showing the examples
before hand, the student work will all be original and not influenced
by any one culture.
If anyone tries this lesson, let me know. I would like to put it on
Incredible Art Department. I did it with 3rd grade many years ago -
but don't have student samples. It was a little bit too hard for 3rd
grade - but should be easy for 6th.
When I did the lesson - I did show students the Kachinas images first
and their work was definitely influenced by what they saw. I would
like to see what happens when they don't see examples first.
