Kindergarten Native American blankets

Kindergarten artists have been learning about how Native Americans lived. We also looked at some youtube clips about how Native Americans wove blankets! We used Native American colors and designs to create our own paper blankets!

On the back of our artworks, we wrote and colored on a handout that can help mom and dad know about what we are learning.

Kindergarten Native American Tipis

Kindergarten artists are studying Native American art and learning about the various types of houses that Native Americans lived in. Kindergarteners learned how the tipis were constructed as well as the fact that they loved putting patterns into their homes. We drew our own tipis and blended cool color paints to create a beautiful sky in the background.

Third grade Native American pendants

Third-grade artists are learning about Native Americans! We discussed some of their history, art styles, and way of life. We also looked at many different art forms and each design our own Native American style necklace pendant. We tried to use geometric patterns, warm colors, and neutral colors.

2nd Grade Native American Totem Poles

2nd Grade artists added to their knowledge of Native American Art and Culture when they looked at why certain tribes make Totem Poles, how they create them, and what significance they have/had. We discussed a totem pole slide show, sketched some totem pole ideas, read a fiction book about totem poles (Called "Totem Tale"), and created our own 3D Form totem poles.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

Download Native American Totem Pole Slide Show Here

Learning Goals:
Students will be able to discuss why Native Americans used Totem Poles
Students will sketch multiple ideas for a totem pole of their own
Students will create their own totem pole

5th Grade Native American Dream Catchers

5th grade artists are learning about Native American life and culture in their classrooms. We added to this by learning about their art as well. Below are two links to slide shows that we used.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

Download Native American Dream Catchers Slide Show Here

We learned about why Native Americans use Dream Catchers - to catch the good dreams and let the bad dreams evaporate with the morning dew. We created our own dreamcatchers out of paper plates, yarn, beads and feathers.

Learning Goals:
Students will be able to discuss why Native Americans used Dream Catchers
Students will use Native American pictographs and traditional designs to decorate the rim of their dream catcher
Students will create their own dream catcher and weave string for the inside of the design

4th Grade Native American Clay Hide Stories with Pictographs

4th Grade artists had a blast learning about Native American Art and culture. Below is a link to the slide show we used to learn about Native American art in general. We learned about how they used pictographs to write down their stories and how they didn't have paper and paint like we do. Sometimes, they used buffalo hides to draw on (and for many other purposes!). We created our own stretched hides out of model magic clay, painted them with watercolor paint, drew with permanent marker, and colored with markers or crayons using warm and neutral colors.  We made a hanger out of twine, beads and found sticks.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

Learning Goals:
Students will be able to discuss why Native Americans used buffalo hides and pictographs
Students will use pictographs to tell their own story
Students will create their story on a clay "hide"

2nd grade Native American Portraits

2nd grade artists drew Native American portraits as part of our district wide Native American unit this year!  We started off by discussing what they already knew about Native Americans and then read some books and watched some youtube videos to learn more about the lives of these people.

Learning Goals:

Students can create a portrait of a Native American using correct proportions

Students can color the portrait using mostly neutral and warm colors

Students can use pictographs to create a story around the edges of the frame

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

5th Grade Native American Figure Drawing

As part of our district wide Native American unit this year, we are combining our 5th grade Native American studies with figure drawing in art. We reviewed what we knew already about Native Americans and added to that knowledge by reading some books and watching some youtube clips. We talked about the art genre of figure drawing and drew Native American dancers!

Learning Goals:

Students can create a figure drawing with correct proportions

Students can add detail and pattern

Students can blend warm colors in the background

Students can use pictographs to create a story in the background

It's a New Year of Art!

Welcome to another exciting year of art at Jamestown Elementary!  We are anticipating another fantastic year of creating art with our students.  This year, the elementary art students at HPS will be learning about the art of Native Americans, Inuits and Eskimos, and Early American Settlers.  We will study the characteristics that make these types of artwork unique, as well as linking them to our knowledge of art elements and principles.

At Jamestown, our students will be working on projects such as Navajo blankets, Native American portraits, teepees, adobe houses, totem poles, jewelry, and dream catchers.   

4th grade Native American Weaving

4th Graders have been having a blast weaving! We studied the origin and legend of Native American weaving. using the art element of form, and choosing our colors thoughtfully, we've created pattern in our textiles.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here