Curated OER
Navajo Weaving: A Lesson in Math and Tradition
Combine geometry and tradition with a lesson that spotlights Navajo weaving. The book, The Goat in the Rug by Charles L. Blood and Martin Link hooks scholars before watching a video of Navajo people tending their sheep and beginning...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: A Bird's Tale
Who wouldn't love to get a letter from a blue bird? Elementary art enthusiasts analyze the social and historical context of Ason Yellowhair's Navajo piece, Bird and Cornstalk Rug. They examine the construction and images on the rug...
Curated OER
Navajo Weaving
Students explore the Navajo culture. In this Navajo Indians lesson, students gain information about their weaving and dancing. Students note the patterns in the weaving. Students create a dance that corresponds with the patterns they see...
Curated OER
Weaving a Story of Cooperation: The Goat in the Rug
Weaving is an important part of Navajo culture. Read The Goat in the Rug to your fourth and fifth graders, and give them a glimpse into the process of rug making from the point of view of a goat! They will learn new vocabulary words and...
Curated OER
Rainbow in a Rug
Students are taught the steps involved in Navajo weaving. They research various rug and blanket styles of the Navajo. Students design and create their own replica Navajo weaving. They are asked how do the Navajo weave such beautiful rugs?
Curated OER
Life of a Navajo Weaver
Students explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Students demonstrate...
Curated OER
Weaving a Story
It's time to investigate patterns! First and second graders construct a paper weaving using a hundreds chart, then use the Ti-10 calculator to make patterns such as adding 3 each time. Learners remove multiples of three from the hundreds...
Curated OER
NATIVE AMERICAN WEAVERS
Students explore Native American weavers by making a pattern, repeating that pattern on a strip of paper, and weaving the paper onto a loom.
Curated OER
Multicultural Math Project
Sixth graders examine where mathematics came from. In this Math History lesson, 6th graders complete various activities to understand mathematical reasoning. Students complete critical thinking questions.
Curated OER
Children of the Earth and Sky
Fourth graders explore the culture and traditions of Native Americans. After reading "Children of the Earth and Sky," students discuss the lives of Native American children in relation to their own. They create replicas of Hopi...
Curated OER
American Indian Art
Student complete a month-long unit on the symbolic and practical reasons for American Indian artwork. They explore websites, discuss elements of design, create an Indian backpack, Kachina Doll, weaving, sand painting, and totem pole.
Curated OER
Native American Homelands
Learners discuss the Navajo, Sioux, and Iroquois tribes, noting their distinctive characteristics. They trace the homeland of each of the tribes on maps and create map keys. Students explain how they developed their map keys.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Navajo Weaving
After studying Navajo weaving and listening to the story "Ten Little Rabbits," students create their own interpretive dances. Contains an assessment checklist and extensions ideas.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lesson: Navajo Weaving
Intergrating dance into your social studies lesson on the Navajo culture will give your students a glimpse into another way of life. They will use their knowledge of loom weaving, Native Americans, and creative dance to express these...
Other
Humbolt State University: Navaho (Navajo) Weaving
The history and style of Navaho weaving (blankets and rugs) is discussed in this richly illustrated, scholarly essay. With information about characteristic patterns used, color emphasis, and other aesthetic qualities.
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
The Math Forum: Multicultural Math Fair: Navajo Burntwater Designs
Simple lesson plan designed to help students learn the geometric concepts of translation, reflection, and symmetry by creating Navajo weaving patterns. Includes templates and instructions and is available in English and Spanish....
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian: Textiles of the North American Southwest
This site explores the weaving traditions of the Native American and Hispanic peoples of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. A gallery of artifacts, timeline, map glossary, and textual descriptions are included. This is a...
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Native North American Art
The MFA's collection of Native American art traces its origins to the 1870s, when the Museum opened to the public. Includes Navajo weavings, Zuni Pueblo pottery, and Plains beadwork. Click on 'View All Works' to access the collection.
California State University
Navaho Rug
A simple, but dynamic introductory weaving activity that focuses on the art of the Navaho Native Americans. The activity is well thought-out and includes references to children's literature to read as an introduction.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: Florence Riggs
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Florence Riggs is described here along with information on his contributions to art through her weaving (Navajo).
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Textiles
A comprehensive site on textiles of the North American Southwest. Includes a gallery, map, catalog, glossary and timeline.
Other
Chimayo Trading and Mercantile
Southwestern art and artists are featured at this Chimayo Trading and Mercantile site. "Paintings, Navajo rugs, Native American pottery, Kachinas, and Native American baskets" are all links found at the bottom of the page.
Curated OER
Shelda Joe 1 thumb.jpg (5920 Bytes)
Southwestern art and artists are featured at this Chimayo Trading and Mercantile site. "Paintings, Navajo rugs, Native American pottery, Kachinas, and Native American baskets" are all links found at the bottom of the page.