Category Archives: Art History

Inspiring Books for the Art Room

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The last couple of years I have used two books by S.D. Nelson and a quilt my mother made based on one of the books as inspirations for lessons in my classroom.  Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and his stories are based on things he
learned as a child.   I use the books as a cultural connection in fourth grade, as well as an example of art telling a story.  The following are two books I think you would love to use in your classroom.

The Star People A Lakota Story.

Two children, Sister Girl and her brother, Young Wolf get lost in the prairie after a wild fire. It takes their grandmother and the other star people to guide them back to their parents and their village. It is well written and illustrated and a great example of how simple pictures can tell and guide a story.

 

Gifted Horse A Lakota Story

This is the first book by S.D. Nelson and it is a about a journey a boy takes with his
horse to become a man.  My students love to hear and read this inspiring story. The quilt my mother made based on this book inspires my students to create amazing drawings and paintings.

 

I hope you and your students will enjoy these books and in the coming weeks I will be sharing more books that I use to inspire my students. Also, I will share a picture of the
quilt in the near future.

Contemporary Moais

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UW LAb School Contemporary Moais
Contemporary Easter Island (Rapa Nui) Moai

Every few years I do a Easter Island unit where students explore the culture of ancient Rapa Nui and create their own Moais. It is a fun and interesting unit and the students love when they get to open the eyes of their Moai at the end like the people of Easter Island did thousands of years ago.

Lesson/Unit Topic:  Easter Island (Rapa Nui)

Grade Level:  6/7

Timeline:   4  40 minute Classes 

Lesson/Unit Objective:

Students will gain knowledge on Easter Island and the art that was roduced there.  Student will create a contemporary Moai with wire and paper-mache and will come up with their reason why the people of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) created these large stone sculptures that we know as Moais.  

Materials:      

  • Wire
  • Twist ties
  • Newspaper
  • Flour
  • Acrylic paint – 16-oz bottle of Portfolio series acrylic
  • Several dollar store brushes
  • Several plastic containers
  • Acrylic satin finish
  • Music from Easter Island

Visuals:

  • Artifacts from Musuem
  • Nova Documentary
  • Pictures on the board

Motivation tools

  • Artifacts from Museum
  • Music from Easter Island

Procedure:

Lesson 1:

  •  Engage:  I will take the  students to the museum to see
    artifacts from Easter Island (Rapa Nui).  During this time I will have the students discuss about the artifacts and have them answer a questionnaire.  If there is time or going to the museum is out of question I will show the Nova Documentary.  During workdays have music playing from Easter Island.
  • Explore: I will demonstrate how to make the wire arm armature (framework, skeleton) and how to skin it.  During this time I will
    ask them about their opinions and thoughts why the islanders carved these great monuments and distorting their island home at the same time.
  • Now is is time to Create the Moai
  • When Finished, Celebrate!!!

How to make the Moai:

  • First the student will make a simple wire armature that will give a outline of their Moai.
  • After the armature is made they will paper mica it and will create more definition of the eyes, mouth, and nose.
  • Then they will paint it base on a post fire technique.
  • Black wash the Moai and let dry.
  • White wash the Moai and let dry.
  • Use dry brush techniques to add several thin layers of color over the Moai to create a rock like appearances.
  • Paint Eyes last.
  • Let dry and apply Acrylic satin finish.
  • Demonstrate this painting technique to the class.
  • Have Fun painting!!!