Smithsonian Institution
A Life in Beads: The Stories a Plains Dress Can Tell
Young learners discover how the Sioux and Assiniboine tribes preserved native culture through the making of traditional dresses, identifying the resources used to make the dresses and discussing behind the meaning behind some American...
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Dreamcatchers
After reading a Native American legend about dreamcatchers, why not make some. This resource provides several good links that explain the legend of the dreamcatcher and step-by-step instructions for making them with the class. Tip: If...
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Native American Story Necklaces
Combine a study of Native American history and art in this lesson. Learners discuss the importance of fetishes in Native American culture, the history of necklaces, and create their own works of art. Your class will find this to be both...
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Bonkers About Beads
Young scholars explore written communication of different cultures, practice identifying letters of the alphabet, and recognize and create patterns with beaded letters.
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Jewelry: Then and Now
Fifth graders identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, & places, recognize & apply elements of art, learn techniques for working with each material, critique artwork, & discuss how artwork...
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Making Rose Petal Beads
Students make homemade beads from flower petals while exploring Native American history, culture, and art.
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Decorating Objects....And Re-Decorating
Students decorate cups or bowls with thematic designs that represent Chinese culture. In this decorating lesson plan, students will decorate their cups or bowls and then “sell” these works of art to partners role-playing as French...
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Weaving with Seed Beads on a Bead Loom
Students describe, and try, the process of weaving and demonstrate how Native Americans and others wove beads on a loom to create long, narrow bands for hair and bracelets.
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Bead Weaving on a Loom
Students investigate the process of weaving and how Native Americans wove beads on looms. They research Native American geometric patterns online, design a pattern on graph paper, and create a patterned beaded band.
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Activity: Polymer Clay Millefiori Cane Beads
Students show an understanding of how millefiori beads are constructed by making some in several styles in polymer clay. They view images and techniques on a website imbedded in this plan and then attempt to make their own.
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How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
Students explore U.S. history by reading a Native American tale in class. In this cultural storytelling lesson plan, students read the story How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun and discuss the characters and themes of the Native...
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African Ecology and Art
Explore Samburu culture as students examine art work by many artists and compare and contrast their styles. They view Kenyan images and find Kenya on the map. Students identify conflict in the animal world and draw animals and record in...
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Why Not Fabric?
Students investigate art from Native American culture by creating fabric. In this native art analysis lesson, students identify the art of Plains Indians and discuss how it is represented in their fabrics, beads and decorations. Students...
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Put on a Happy Face!
Students explore using recycled materials. In this ecology/art lesson, students use recycled materials to create a Halloween mask. Students view folk art made of natural and available resources, and discuss possible cultural uses for...
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Do You Dare to Dream?
Third graders discover the meaning behind dream catchers. In this themes and symbols in art lesson plan, 3rd graders discuss the meaning of Native American dream catchers. Students use paper plates, beads, and feathers to make the dream...
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Mother's Day Wampum Beads
Sixth graders research the historical significance of Mother's Day and the cultural background of Wampum Beads. They create colorful Mother's Day gifts. They increase their knowledge of color theory.
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Polymer Clay Millefiori Cane Beads
Students explore how to make millefiori cane beads. They use clay and beads to form the unique art.
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Ceramic Draped Slab Masks
Students will compare and contrast various forms of artistic expression associated with specific groups of people, geographic regions, or time periods. Investigate processes and beliefs used by various cultures and institutions, past and...
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Mexican Metal Tooling
Metal work can be a wonderful way to expose learners to Mexican folk art. This resource provides all the necessary steps for creating Mexican metal tooling with your art class. Images, web links, recommended books and products make...
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The Art of Jewelry
Students discover Native American culture through jewelry. In this Native American culture lesson, students investigate several different Native American tribes and complete a word search activity. Students create their own jewelry...
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Dream Catchers
Young scholars create Native American dream catchers to represent the Native American culture. After reading and discussing the origin of the Dream cather, they begin to construct their dream catchers using wire hoops, thread, beads, and...
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Didgeridoos
Students explore the Aboriginal culture from Australia and create and play their own didgeridoo using recycled objects.
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Masking the Truth
Learners explore the artistic and social significance of African masks. They create their own masks that reflect an important aspect of moving in their lives.
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Food and Languages of the World
Students engage in creative bead making while discussing Africa. In this diversity and arts instructional activity, students create African necklaces while being introduced to the African culture.