Lessons 1-2: Native Indian Art of George
Catlin
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials:
pencil, sketchbook, bent thick wire and blinder card for the drawing ritual,
white drawing paper, larger black paper for mounting, thin black marker, color medium of choice,
color wheel
Vocabulary: analogous colors
Activities
-
Begin with a Wire Drawing Ritual in
your Sketchbook - use the instructions for the
Wire Drawing. This is a 5 minute drawing warm up using thick
wire bent into an odd shape. Insert a pencil through an 8"x8"
BLINDER card.
The blinder card will keep you from looking down on your paper
while drawing.
Trace the
contour of the wire in the air by using your finger to follow
the contour of the wire SLOWLY until you reach the starting
point. Next, fix your eyes on the starting point and
position your pencil on the sketchbook. As your eyes follow the
contour of the wire your pencil follows your eye movements
exactly. Put the date in your sketchbook.
-
Native Indian Art of George Catlin.
Read over the information and describe his art.
-
What Native
American name would you name yourself? This website will give
you a few ideas!
-
Draw a
picture from one of these ideas. If you are drawing an
animal have a picture to look at. You may use the Google search
engine. Outline with thin black marker and and color with a
medium of choice.
-
Look at this
webpage to learn about
ANALOGOUS COLORS . These are colors that are next to each
other on the color wheel. Look at a color wheel and pick
out some analogous colors. Try using some of these
Analogous
Colors in your drawing when coloring in your shapes. For
example, if you'd like a blue sky, try blue-violet and violet
along with your blue and overlap all three colors to create
interesting effects. Use a color wheel to help you choose
your colors.
-
When you are
finished write your name on the lower right corner. You can glue
this onto larger black paper as a frame.
-
Hang your
picture up for all to see!
Differentiation
Support:
Extension: Here are a few
Color Wheels to view. More
Analogous Color information

Lesson 3: Leather Painting (Part 1)
Duration: 1 class period
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art.Li Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: sketchbook, pencil, blinder card and bent wire for
the drawing ritual, brown paper bag, scissors, tub of water or sink
Activities
-
Begin with a Wire Drawing Ritual in
your Sketchbook - use the instructions for the
Wire Drawing. This is a 5 minute drawing warm up using thick
wire bent into an odd shape. Insert a pencil through an 8"x8"
BLINDER card.
The blinder card will keep you from looking down on your paper
while drawing.
Trace the
contour of the wire in the air by using your finger to follow
the contour of the wire SLOWLY until you reach the starting
point. Next, fix your eyes on the starting point and
position your pencil on the sketchbook. As your eyes follow the
contour of the wire your pencil follows your eye movements
exactly. Put the date in your sketchbook.
- Look at a
Cherokee Art Gallery for some artwork created by Cherokee
Indians. This site also has contemporary Cherokee music to
listen to as you search the art gallery. What subjects do the
artists use in the paintings? Some paintings tell a story. Can
you describe the story in one of the paintings?
- You will research a native American
tribe and take notes on what is important in the culture.
You may also draw some sketches in your sketchbook.
- Here is an
American
Indian Leather Painting Lesson Plan
to follow.
-
Prepare the bag first. Cut
out one side of the paper bag and write your name on it with
permanent marker. Soak it in water for a few minutes. Take
it out and carefully crush it into a ball to wring out the
water. Open it up and let it dry on newspaper.
-
Listen to the
Native American Background Music Counter Clockwise Dance
and the
Cherokee Morning Song
while you research.
Differentiation
Support: Help the student with the research. Choose one simple
story to tell about the tribe.

Lessons 4-5: Leather Painting (Part 2)
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: sketchbook, pencil, blinder card and bent
wire for the drawing ritual, prepared dry paper bag from last class,
crayons or oil pastels,
brown watercolors, paint brush, water container, newspaper, paper
towels
Activities
-
Begin with a Wire Drawing Ritual in
your Sketchbook - use the instructions for the
Wire Drawing. This is a 5 minute drawing warm up using thick
wire bent into an odd shape. Insert a pencil through an 8"x8"
BLINDER card.
The blinder card will keep you from looking down on your paper
while drawing.
Trace the
contour of the wire in the air by using your finger to follow
the contour of the wire SLOWLY until you reach the starting
point. Next, fix your eyes on the starting point and
position your pencil on the sketchbook. As your eyes follow the
contour of the wire your pencil follows your eye movements
exactly. Put the date in your sketchbook.
- Continue the
American
Indian Leather Painting Lesson Plan
from last class.
-
Listen to the
Native American Background Music Counter Clockwise Dance
and the
Cherokee Morning Song
while you work.
- Use your
notes and sketches from last class and draw some pictures on the
dry paper bag.
You may outline
with a permanent marker and add color with crayons or oil
pastels.
- Place
newspaper under your bag and set up your watercolors, water
container, brush and paper towels near you. Add a brown
watercolor wash on top of the oil pastels.
- When you
are finished your Leather Painting lay your wet image somewhere
safe to dry. You may even glue it onto larger black paper as a
frame when it is dry.
-
Hang up all the artwork for a class
critique. Each student can talk about his/her own art. Talk about
the various stories depicted on the bags. What Indian tribe is it?
What are they doing? What is important in the culture? Only positive
feedback from the other students is allowed!
-
Your teacher will display your story
art outside the art
room for all to see. Very good!
Differentiation
Support:
Extension:

Lessons 6-7: Wampum Belt and Symbols in Art
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: sketchbook, pencil, blinder card, bent wire for
the drawing ritual, string, assorted beads, (cut straws optional) |
Activities
-
Begin with a Wire Drawing Ritual in
your Sketchbook - use the instructions for the
Wire Drawing. This is a 5 minute drawing warm up using thick
wire bent into an odd shape. Insert a pencil through an 8"x8"
BLINDER card.
The blinder card will keep you from looking down on your paper
while drawing.
Trace the
contour of the wire in the air by using your finger to follow
the contour of the wire SLOWLY until you reach the starting
point. Next, fix your eyes on the starting point and
position your pencil on the sketchbook. As your eyes follow the
contour of the wire your pencil follows your eye movements
exactly. Put the date in your sketchbook.
-
Wampum belts were used to record
events and memories. The use of patterns and symbols and color
were a method of storytelling. To learn more read some
information on history and use of the wampum belt:
History Through Arts
(Here the students design a patterned belt on graph paper and
use it to tell a story),
Native Tech.org . What do the colors white, purple and black
symbolize?
-
This site shows how to string a single strand of wampum:
Homestead.org
Here is a simple idea
to make a short wampum belt: Cut a
straw in half. Tie two pieces of 15" yarn on one piece of
straw. (You can add more yarn later if you'd like.) Use
1/2" cut straw and large beads to pull through the
two pieces of yarn. When the two strands of yarn are full
of beads and straw, tie the bottom of the yarn to the second
half of the straw. You may add more pieces of yarn along with
beads and cut pieces of straw to the "belt" if you'd like.
Think about color and pattern when you string your yarn. You may
use colored permanent marker to color the straw pieces. The
belts can be much longer as well.
Differentiation
Support:
Extension: Add and lengthen your yarn strands to create
a longer and intricate belt.

Lessons 8-9: Native American Basket Weaving
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: pencil, sketchbook, blinder card and found object
for drawing ritual,
16 oz. plastic cups (2 per student), yarn in
various colors, beads, glue, scissors,
paper & crayons (for preliminary sketches)
Activities
-
Begin with a Drawing Ritual in
your sketchbook- Look at this site for Rituals
to Start an Art Class. This is a five minute warm up in your
sketchbook.
Use a blinder card (place the pencil through a hole in the
center of a 8 x 8 inch card). The card will keep you from
looking down on your paper. You may look down only to
reposition your pencil when you begin a new line.
-
Look at some
Native American Baskets. Choose your favorite basket. What
tribe does it come from? What materials were used and what would
it be used for? You may sketch the design of one or two baskets
in your sketchbook.
- Design an simple basket with
a pattern or design with crayons or colored pencils.
-
Follow one of these lessons using cups, yarn and beads.
Lingenfelter Museum Lesson ,
Princeton Online Lesson
- Display the completed baskets
on a table outside the art room. Great job!
Differentiation
Support:
Extension:

Lessons 10-11: Native American Burlap Weaving
Art
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: pencil, sketchbook, found object and blinder card
for the drawing ritual, variety of colored
burlap pieces, 12" × 10" assorted
yarns,
beads,
needles,
scissors,
12"
dowel rods,
glue gun/sticks,
name tags
Activities
-
Begin with a Drawing Ritual in
your sketchbook- Look at this site for Rituals
to Start an Art Class. This is a five minute warm up in your
sketchbook.
Use a blinder card (place the pencil through a hole in the
center of a 8 x 8 inch card). The card will keep you from
looking down on your paper. You may look down only to
reposition your pencil when you begin a new line.
-
Follow this lesson:
Burlap Weaving Lesson
plan.
Differentiation
Support:
Extension:

Lessons 12-13: Native American Pottery
Duration: 2 class periods
Standards-Based
Assessments
Standard 1:. Recognizes and uses the visual arts as
a form of communication. Selects visual images for works of art to communicate ideas.
Standard 2: Knows and applies elements of art and principles of design. Identifies primary colors.
Standard 3: Knows
and applies the use of tools, materials, techniques, and processes. Demonstrates appropriate used of tools and materials. Demonstrates instructed techniques and processes.
Standard 4: Demonstrates
an understanding of art in relation to history, culture, and community. Produces art that has
been influenced by aspects of history. Produces art that has been influenced by
aspects of culture. Produces art that has been influenced by aspects of
community.
Standard 5: Critiques
works of art through analysis, assessment, and evaluation. Describes/shows similarities and differences between works of art. Describes the mood and/or feeling in works of art. Explains personal likes and dislikes about works of art.
Assessment:
Art
Rubric
Materials: pencil, sketchbook, found object and blinder card
for the drawing ritual, air dry, oven or kiln clay (follow the
manufacturer's directions)
Activities
-
Begin with a Drawing Ritual in
your sketchbook- Look at this site for Rituals
to Start an Art Class. This is a five minute warm up in your
sketchbook.
Use a blinder card (place the pencil through a hole in the
center of a 8 x 8 inch card). The card will keep you from
looking down on your paper. You may look down only to
reposition your pencil when you begin a new line.
-
Look through these pottery lessons:
Illinois Museum Pottery Lessons,
Dick Blick Coil Pots Lessons
View the student ART
GALLERY for some coil pottery.
Differentiation
Support:
Extension:

Lesson 9:
Duration: 1 class period
Enduring Understanding:
Essential Questions:
Activities
-
Differentiation
Support:
Extension:
