Native American Object Trays for Cultural Studies

The first tray is well used and full of interesting Native American dolls.

Being a Montessori teacher means searching garage and estate sales and the Salvation Army for that one cast off item that would be perfect in your cultural studies or geography shelves. 

Over the years they add up to a pretty nice collection and for pennies, too.

These trays teach vocabulary, culture, science and design.

Each object makes for interesting conversation at line time.

June 2011 Unit of Native American Indian Art

This summer we made many beautiful art works with a Native American theme. The summer is mainly arts based at my school and I hope others can find these posts useful for their class. If you are new to my blog, I have many other ideas in other subjects to share with you! Please take a look and find a new lesson for your children to enjoy!

On Youtube I am at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ClaySensei

and

http://www.youtube.com/user/InspiredPreK

Bye! Carolyn

Paper Thunder-birds and Paper Indian Dolls

Folded Paper Thunder-birds 

These paper Thunder-bird eagles are cut from a folded paper like you would a paper heart.

Draw half of the bird at the fold and cut so when you unfold it you have the full bird.

This gives you a positive and negative of the same images. Use both papers.

The birds can be simple or complex.

The positives are just as beautiful as the negatives.

They are beautiful even plain and could be hung like banners.

Kids decorate with yellow squares and zig zags.

Indian Paper Doll

These simple shapes create a cute paper doll that the children love.

Cut a fringe on the blanket edges.

Great Video!

Tepee Diorama

For a base to a diorama, paint a ceiling tile and add rocks and twigs to create the outdoors.

Add objects to finish the look. 

We used our clay tepees.

Video is at bottom of this post!

Paper Teepees

Using brown grocery bags or just construction paper cut out large teepees for the kids to design.

 Add feathers and, in our case, images from a teacher's store.

Buffalo Art Project

Our art museum has "Art Trunks" for classes to rent. In this trunk from Joslyn Art Museum, artist Bob Haozous, had a flat, steel sculpture. I traced it to make a template and a project from it.

The cardboard template is traced onto brown paper.

4 and 5 year olds copy Indian symbols around the buffalo.

Design paper is colored and added.

 The younger children, who cannot draw the symbols, did this easier version.

Montessori Insets Become Plains Indians

This is a challenging inset extension for older children.

Using the oval inset, I drew Native American faces for the students to copy.

One of a kind project for advanced artists!

Finished Clay Teepees and Canoes

Clay Canoe

This is a good addition to a Native American study unit. Any age child would love to do this.