Submitted by: Meryl Weber, Art
Coordinator for Berkeley County School District
UNIT: Art of Japan - Textiles - Kimonos
Grade Level: Elementary (clay Kimonos adaptable to middle
school)
Kimono
Weavings
Kimono Scratch Art
Kimono Clay Sculpture
Meryl was a recipient of a Fulbright
Scholarship to Japan. These lessons were a result of her trip.
Many members of Getty TeacherArtExchange list serve have found out
about this program through the list. Meryl is sharing her
experience. Lessons were done with students at Hanahan Elementary in Hanahan,
South Carolina
Lesson
Title: Kimono Paper Weavings
Grade 3
Description:
The Kimono is
the traditional dress of Japan.
They are made of beautiful fabrics and are very expensive
to buy. Different styles of Kimono are worn by married and
unmarried women and during different seasons of the year.
Today Kimono
are worn for special occasions only.
Objectives:
- Students review elements and principles
of design that apply to this project –Repeat pattern.
- Students gain skills in the concept of
weaving.
- Students compare US and Japanese
clothing.
Materials:
Construction paper 12X18
Pieces of paper cut into ½ ” strips
(wallpaper, wrapping paper,metallics) or:
Sax Arts and Crafts 2005 –Sensational Paper ½ “ strips-
Item #: 705404258
6x6 patterned origami paper cut in half to 3x6 pieces
Elmer’s Glue, scissors
Resources:
Example of a Kimono or doll wearing a
Kimono, images of Kimono
Websites: http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/Kimono/index.html
-very complete site with information and images on men’s,
women’s and child’s Kimono
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/Kimono/history.html
- site designed for children. Includes sections on history,
types, and occasions for wearing Kimono.
Students can design a Virtual Kimono.
Shockwave needed.
http://www.japaneseKimono.com/index.htm
Site has many pictures of different types of Japanese clothing,
Kimono fabric and how to tie an obi
Horn, Diane Victoria. JAPANESE Kimono
DESIGN. Owings Mills, MD: Stemmer House, 1991.
Oriental Patterns: http://patterns.ming-ling.net/large.html
Directions:
DAY 1. Show examples of Kimono and internet
resources. Talk
about the different fibers (silk, wool, cotton, linen) and where
they come from. Have
students examine their shirts to see if they are knitted or
woven. Compare Kimono to American clothing. Define
loom. Demonstrate how to make the “loom”. There will
actually be 2 loom areas cut.
The top half of the Kimono is woven first then the bottom
half is folded up and cut to create another “loom."
1. Hold paper vertically. Fold in half vertically, open and
fold again horizontally. Open
and fold long edges of paper so that they meet in the middle.
Paper is divided into 1/8ths.
Cut away the shaded areas to form a Kimono shape.
Fold the top edge down to the center. Draw lines about 1
inch apart and cut to form the loom.
DAY 2- Demonstrate how to weave the paper
strips. Weave the
top half of the Kimono. Use color strips to create a repeating
pattern.
DAY 3-6- Continue
weaving top half. When
finished, fold and cut the bottom half. Weave the bottom.
DAY 3- When
weaving is complete use origami paper to add details (obi,
collar)
Assessment:
Woven Paper Kimono
Demonstrated
repeating pattern
1 2 3 4
Used care/skill
weaving 1
2 3
4
Added original
details 1
2 3
4
Total____
Grade______
National
Standards:
I.
Understanding And Applying Media, Techniques, And Processes
III.
Choosing And Evaluating A Range Of Subject Matter, Symbols, And
Ideas
IV.
Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and
Cultures.
Title:
Kimono Scratch Art
Grade 4
Description:
The Kimono is
the traditional dress of Japan.
They are made of beautiful fabrics and are very expensive
to buy. Different styles of Kimono are worn by married and
unmarried women and during different seasons of the year.
Today Kimono
are worn for special occasions only. The designs on the Kimono
are created using many techniques (batik, shibori, weaving).
Many artists today use the image of Kimono in their own
artwork.
Objectives:
- Students review elements and principles
of design that apply to this project –pattern,
negative/positive.
- Students gain skills in observational
drawing.
- Compare the designs of images of Kimono.
Materials:
Rainbow White Scratch-Art Paper 9X12”
Wooden stylus
Silk flowers
White copy paper, pencils
Note: this lesson would also be stunning
on gold or silver scratchboard
Resources:
Example of a Kimono or doll wearing a
Kimono, images of Kimono
Websites: http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/Kimono/index.html
-very complete site with information and images on men’s,
women’s and child’s Kimono
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/Kimono/history.html
- site designed for children. Includes sections on history,
types, and occasions for wearing Kimono.
Students can design a Virtual Kimono.
Shockwave needed.
http://www.japaneseKimono.com/index.htm
Site has many pictures of different types of Japanese clothing,
Kimono fabric and how to tie an obi
Horn, Diane Victoria. JAPANESE Kimono
DESIGN. Owings Mills, MD: Stemmer House, 1991.
Directions:
DAY - Show examples of Kimono and internet
resources. Discuss
the image of Kimono as art. Show examples of nature designs on
Kimono. Students sketch3 different silk flowers.
DAY 2- Students draw a simple outline of a
Kimono. Use
drawings of flowers to design the Kimono pattern.
DAY 3 - 6- Transfer
Kimono design to white Scratch-Art paper. Place sketch on paper
and trace over lines with a ball point pen.
Impression of lines will come out on Scratch–Art paper.
Use wooden stylus to scratch away the design. Make
decisions as to which areas with remain white, which will be
solid color and which will have pattern.
Assessment:
Scratchboard Kimono
Kimono design
showed balance
Color and
white areas (notan)
1
2 3
4
Used at least 3
line textures/patterns
1 2
3 4
Skill of 3
observational drawings
1 2
3 4
Total____
Grade______
National
Standards:
I.
Understanding And Applying Media, Techniques, And Processes
III.
Choosing And Evaluating A Range Of Subject Matter, Symbols, And
Ideas
IV.
Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and
Cultures
Title:
Clay Kimono
Grade 5
Description:
The Kimono is
the traditional dress of Japan.
They are made of beautiful fabrics and are very expensive
to buy. Different styles of Kimono are worn by married and
unmarried women and during different seasons of the year.
Today Kimono
are worn for special occasions only. The designs on the Kimono
are created using many techniques (batik, shibori, weaving).
Many artists today use the image of Kimono in their own
artwork.
Objectives:
- Students review elements and principles
of design that apply to this project –pattern, texture,
color.
- Students gain skill in slab building
clay forms.
Materials:
White Earthenware clay ½ lb per student
Rolling pins, clay tools
Cardboard cones, 8” high, covered with a plastic sandwich bag
Objects to create texture: buttons, lace, etc
Black acrylic, metallic acrylics
Wood bases, Liquid Nails Adhesive
Note: these would also be beautiful
underglazed and glazed.
Resources:
Example of a clay Kimono
Websites: http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/Kimono/index.html
-very complete site with information and images on men’s,
women’s and child’s Kimono
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/Kimono/history.html
- site designed for children. Includes sections on history,
types, and occasions for wearing Kimono.
Students can design a Virtual Kimono.
Shockwave needed.
http://www.japaneseKimono.com/index.htm
Site has many pictures of different types of Japanese clothing,
Kimono fabric and how to tie an obi
Horn, Diane Victoria. JAPANESE Kimono
DESIGN. Owings Mills, MD: Stemmer House, 1991.
Directions:
DAY 1.
Show examples of Kimono and internet
resources. Discuss
the image of Kimono as art. Show examples of nature designs on
Kimono. Review clay techniques and procedures.
DAY 2-3.
Students roll out clay to 3/8 inch
thickness, use
cutting tool to cut out an oval about 8 inches long. Cut a small
circle in the center. Drape
clay over plastic covered cardboard cones.
Score and attach under the sleeves. Roll out a thin coil
and attach around the neck. Press objects into clay for pattern
and texture. Dry
for one day and remove plastic bag from cone.
Replace Kimono on cone until dry.
DAY 3-5.
Fire clay in kiln. Paint Kimono a solid color. When dry rub metallic acrylic paint to bring out
textures. Mount on
wood base using Liquid Nails adhesive.
Assessment:
Clay Kimono
Creative,
interesting and 1
2 3 4
Balanced design
Used care/skill
ceramic construction
1 2
3 4
Pasting
Use of paint
1 2
3 4
Total____
Grade______
National
Standards:
I.
Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
III.
Choosing and Evaluating A Range Of Subject Matter, Symbols, And
Ideas
IV.
Understanding the Visual Arts in Relation to History and
Cultures.
"Japan
Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program"
The Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program (JFMF)
provides U.S. primary and secondary school teachers and
administrators with the opportunity to participate in three-week
study visits to Japan and to return home with a follow-on plan
designed to introduce Japanese culture to American students.
Each year, up to 600 teachers and administrators, including
participants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, are selected to participate in the JFMF program. The JFMF
Program features an orientation to Japan followed by visits to
primary and secondary schools, teacher training colleges,
cultural sites, and industrial facilities. Meetings with
Japanese teachers and students and a home stay with a Japanese
family are also key components of the program.
Participants return home to share their new knowledge with
students, colleagues, and the local community, ensuring that
more than just the individual participants profit from the
experience. As an additional benefit to participants, graduate
level credits are also available. Check site for deadlines http://www.iie.org/jfmf
