Lesson Objectives

Goals:

1. To learn about the unique symbolism of Native Americans.
2. Teaching the idea of preplanning a design.
3. Teaching colored marker skills.
4. Teaching macramé skills.

Grade Level

4th Grade

Time Required

Five 40-Minute Periods

Procedure

Lesson 1

1. Show posters of Anasazi Indian cliff dwellings. Many Native American designs are symmetrical. That means whatever was on one side of the design was repeated on the other side. Show examples of pottery, weavings, etc. Encourage students to create designs that are symmetrical.
2. You will need a plan for your shield. Go through the books and FEED your brain with the symbols and their meanings. Then do 2 different designs. Teacher selects the best one for the final project. Experiment with a large design in the center first, then add designs to top, sides, bottom, and as borders.

Lesson 2

1. Begin enlarging your design. If you choose to have a border, trace one of the large circles inside the form and enlarge your border design around this inside circle. Remember to draw lightly and big.
2. Encourage perfectly drawn circles with the tracer or the compass. All straight lines must be drawn with the ruler.

Lesson 3

1. Today many of you will be ready for color. Do not start color until the teacher checks your designs in pencil. You may need to make some larger. Let another person hold up your project to judge how it looks. You can see if shapes are balanced, too large or small etc. This is the BEST evaluation tool. Fix anything that needs to be fixed.
2. Add color. Two methods look really great. One is to use complements. These are any two colors across from each other on the color wheel. They will vibrate if placed next to each other in a design. Choose one more color that is next to one of them to complete your color scheme. Another method is to use analogous colors. Any three color on the color wheel that are right beside each other will be winner. Experiment with color combinations on your plan paper before your choose.
3. Use the right marker for the right job. Don't use fine tips to color in a huge area. Use the fat markers. Color neatly, scribbling NEVER looks good.

Lessons 4-5

1. When your shield is finished, you may choose 2 feathers, 5 beads, or less. You may also choose to learn macramé and put some in the middle of your shield. Have a plan so the teacher can put the right amount of holes in the bottom. For macramé, it will need 3 holes in the center bottom about 3" apart. You need 3 strings each 36" long, one in each hole. Two more holes, one on either side of the macramé holes are for their feathers and beads.
2. If students choose only feathers and beads, two holes, center bottom, about 3" apart are needed.
3. Teacher hits all feathers on cords at the joins with a dot of hot glue. The feathers will fall off otherwise.
4. If students choose to do macramé, they will need a 6th lesson period.

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