Lesson 3: Social Studies/art

Objectives:

The students will learn about Native American weavers by making a pattern, repeating that pattern on a strip of paper, and weaving the paper onto a loom.

Materials:

Procedure:

Before the lesson, make the loom. Tie one end of each piece of yarn to one dowel rod. Space the yarn about 6 inches apart. Tie the other end of the yarn to the second dowel rod.
  1. Ask students if they know how Indian rugs are made.
  2. Read the story The Goat in the Rug. After the third page, ask the students if they know who is telling the story (the goat). Predict what will happen after the goat is shaved. Ask if anyone has done weaving before. Have the students note the goat's wool has grown back by the end of the story. Ask how long they think it would take a weaver to make a rug.
  3. Tell the students that they will make a class rug and our design will be unique too. We will use patterns.
  4. Explain that a pattern is something that repeats itself. It has a core and that core is repeated over in the same order. The core can consist of 2, 3, or more designs.
  5. Show examples of completed patterns and point out the core of the pattern. Have the students make a pattern with the teacher using individual patterns squares.
  6. Show the students designs that may have been used by Indians so the students can choose which designs they want to use.
  7. Discuss that symbols were used by Native Americans to communicate. Ask the students if we use any symbols to communicate today. Examples: Picture of boy and girl on bathrooms, traffic signs, circle with line crossed through.
  8. Give each child a strip of paper and have them create the core of their pattern with crayons using at least two designs but no more than four. After checking their work, have the student continue the pattern until the paper is full. Discuss individually the meaning of the symbols they chose to illustrate.
  9. After the student has completed the design, demonstrate how to weave the paper on the loom. Let the student weave their paper on the loom.
  10. Tape the individual strips of paper together on the back side so the rug makes one piece. Display the rug on the wall.
  11. After the rug is completed, have the students look for the symbol most commonly illustrated and discuss its meaning. Review the process the Navajo weaver went through to make her rug and compare it to the process the class went through to make their rug.

Evaluation of student learning:

During the discussion and guided practice as a whole class, I will observe if the students know how to form a core of a pattern. I will determine if the students can carry out a pattern by looking at their strip of paper they design. Through the discussion, I will assess if the students know the process of weaving a rug.

Reflection:

I had the students sitting at their desks while I read the story and there was limited walking room therefore, not all of the students could see the pictures. I think it was good to point out that the story was told from the goat's point of view. If I were to do this again, I would like to have the students dye some kind of material, if possible, with dye made from plants or berries. The book describes the Navajo weaver collecting plants to naturally dye the goat's wool, but I do not think all of the students understood. The students finished their pattern strip at different times so I would plan another activity for those students who finish early.

My cooperating teacher said I used the room I had available when I was reading and I had good control of the class. She especially liked the individual pattern pieces because it allowed for a lot of guided practice in building a pattern. The completed pattern allowed for a different type of practice, a whole to part practice.

Return to the Native American Mini-Unit