Submitted by- Samantha J.
Wilmoth:
Miller South School for
the Visual & Performing Arts, Akron, Ohio
Unit: Science/Social Studies/Visual Art Integration
Lesson Plan: Rockin’ Chalk (Integrating science - make own chalk)
Grade Level: Elementary grade four (adaptable
to middle school and h
igh school - see science experiments)
Alternate Lesson Plans and Ideas using Petroglyphs
See Rock Art by Jan Hillmer
Cave Painting - Links and Lesson
Plans
Native American Symbols - Plains
Indians (Lakota) Lessons using Plains Art
Objectives: Students will
-
Display knowledge gained from studying
characteristics of rocks and minerals
-
Develop an hypothesis and design an experiment to
test it
-
Create several pieces of colored chalk from
materials supplied
-
Demonstrate craftsmanship in using art media to
create a circular picture story
-
Use of line, pattern and texture to show
knowledge of the use of geometric designs and repeating patterns in
primitive art
Materials:
Each group receives a small margarine tub of plaster of Paris, talc and cornstarch and one set of food coloring dyes (dry pigment paint works even better)
Empty margarine bowl and Popsicle stick *per student* to mix ingredients
Two-cup measure of water
One stick of modeling clay per student (Plasticine clay – not firing clay or air-dry clay. The Plasticine clay can be used again for other modeling activities and will not absorb the water from the chalk mixture)
Section of slate or side of brown paper bag
Handouts on Native American pictographs (many images available online)
See this science experiment for an alternate method
(Good luck - How is your chemistry?)
http://colossus.chem.umass.edu/genchem/
Alternate easy recipe About.com
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/coloredchalk.htm
Vocabulary:
Hypothesis, variable, data, repeating pattern,
balance, contrast, angle, parallel, symmetry, pattern, natural resources,
prehistoric, pictograph
Petroglyphs -
"are carved, pecked, chipped or
abraded into stone. The outer patina covered surface of the parent stone
is removed to expose the usually lighter colored stone underneath. Some
stone is better suited to petroglyph making than others. Stone that is
very hard or contains a lot of quartz does not work well for petroglyph
making; however, a nice desert varnished basalt usually works very well."
Definition from Petroglyphs.us
Pictographs -
"are painted onto stone and are
much more fragile than petroglyphs. The paint is a mineral or vegetal
substance combined with some sort of binder like fat residue or
blood. If the paint was not properly mixed with a binder it would not
adhere well to the stone and the pictograph would quickly flake away. Pictographs
were painted in locations where they would be protected from the elements:
in caves, alcoves, under ledges and overhangs." Definition from Petroglyphs.us
Intaglios -
"are large ground drawings created
by removing the pebbles that make up desert pavement. Intaglios are
usually in the outline of animals (zoomorphs) or human-like figures (anthropomorphs). Intaglios
are found on mesas along the Colorado River more so than in other
places." Definition from Petroglyphs.us
Internet Resources:
Books for Children:
Books on Ohio Petroglyphs:
Swauger, James. Petroglyphs of Ohio. Columbus: Ohio
University Press, 1984. The author presents the results of years of surveying and recording all
the known petroglyph sites in the state of Ohio. Petroglyph sites of both
American Indian and Euro-American origin are represented. Each site is
documented on a site-by-site basis, with location information
(approximate), a description and discussion of the rock art, and published
references.
________. Rock Art of the Upper Ohio Valley.
Graz, Austria: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, l974.
Instruction/Motivation:
This is a culminating project I do with my kids at
the end of the study of Ohio's prehistoric people as we move into the
historical Native groups and at the end of the science unit i do on rocks
& minerals & fossils and as we move into earth structure and
changes.
Petroglyphs and pictographs are a part of many
cultures around the world. They represent humans’ first attempts at
preserving ideas in an artistic manner. Art materials were made out of
resources at hand and symbols were often stylized versions of reality.
These symbols however must have made sense not only to those creating
them, but to those viewing them as well. Students will practice
interpreting a few stories told in picture form first. Next they will be
instructed to make their own art supplies, in this case, chalk.
Procedures:
Each group is given their set of materials: two-cup
measure of water; small margarine tubs filled with plaster of Paris, talc
and corn starch. They are also given a box of colored food dyes, but are
instructed to use that last. Finally, they will need an empty margarine
bowl to mix their ingredients in.
Next they are told to hypothesize what mixture of the
ingredients will produce the “best” chalk. Lead them through a
discussion of what their definition of “best” is. Next, each group
will write out an hypothesis for what they think the best mixture will be
and then they will write out the procedure they will use to test their
beliefs. Go from group to group to make sure they know what the variables
are.
Note: Guide them to see that the dye
has to be included as fluid added to the mix. If you are using dry pigment
paint instead, this is not a concern.
After they have agreed on their mixture, but before
they actually make it, review their procedures with them, and then
instruct them to make a mold from the clay for the chalk. Each student
makes their own mold so that each group ends up with several pieces of
chalk made from their mixture. Remind them before they add the dye that
they need to use natural earth tones and to mix it well with the Popsicle
stick.
Next they are to carefully pour their mixture into their clay
molds. Set them aside to dry. This could take several days, depending on
the humidity level. When dry, students will remove from the molds and then
test their chalk out on either small pieces of slate or on a small piece
of the brown paper grocery bag. If all goes well, they are ready to create
their pictograph stories. They can draw the rough drafts of these stories
in the time it takes for the chalk to cure. Students can share their rough
drafts with their group mates to make sure that they can “read” them
as well. If for some reason, a group’s chalk does not turn out-and this
DOES happen! –then have the group go back to their original mixture.
What do they need to change to make their chalk “better”? Have them
write the new mixture down and try it out as well. When each group is
satisfied that their chalk is satisfactory, they can create their
pictograph stories. Display all the finished products and lead a group
discussion about the quality of the different mixtures and what made them
that way.
Evaluation:
-
Did students show an appreciation and
understanding of the use of pictographs?
-
Were they able to compare and contrast different
approaches and methods?
-
Did students show observation and experimentation
skills in creating their own chalk?
-
Did students show symmetrical and geometrical
balance in the creation of their picture story?
-
Did they show contrast (different values),
pattern and repetition?
-
Did students exhibit skill and craftsmanship in
creating their pictographic designs?
Extension:
As an extension, have students create other art tools
using natural materials such as sticks, feathers, and different types of
dried grasses. Have them find natural pigments to paint with such as
berries, dirt and ground up fresh grass. Have them try out different
substances to use as the “canvas”, too, such as bark or cotton or
scraps of leather. Continue to stress using characteristics of primitive
art in their final products they create using these tools as well.
Lesson Plans and Ideas using Petroglyphs
Submitted by Jan Hillmer
UNIT: Art-Science-Social Studies - Petroglyphs
Lesson: Carved Petroglpyhs (in clay)
Grade level: elementary (grade five)
Prepare irregular clumps/slabs of clay ahead of
time and allow to dry completely.
Jan
talked to the students about Petroglyphs. (5th grade)
She had some pictures of petroglyphs that the
Science teacher was also using to discuss petroglyphs (It would be
great to tie this in with social studies too - 5th grade studies
Pueblo cultures/ Anasazi). After the clay was good and dry,
they went out to an area in the courtyard that has gravel. They each
found a small rock for carving their glyph into the clay. The
"rock art" glyphs were later fired. (Click image for
larger view.)
A
very cool outgrowth that happened is that a few of the
students, by chance, were doing the carving over their open
sketchbook, and when they swept the carving dust across the paper,
the paper had a coat of reddish chalk/clay . One of the kids
started DRAWING with their petroglyph rock onto the reddish paper.
They drew a few more glyphs on their paper. Then they got out
charcoal and did their sketching assignment in charcoal on that cool
paper. Jan sprayed fixative on the paper after they
finished class. Lesson can be completed in one class period
(actually glyph carving portion took 1/2 hour for all to finish)
After glyphs have been fired - have students exchange and interpret
the meaning of the glyphs. What do they say about the culture who
made them? Glyphs could be stained with watered down acrylics.
Additional Lesson Ideas and Plans
- Low relief clay tile or plaque - using Native American motifs or
symbols of personal meaning. Cast with handmade paper. See Skutt
Lesson Plan for some "how to's" on paper casting.
- An old favorite - hand print cast in plaster. Carve some simple
symbols in negative spaces. Stain with shoe polish or acrylic paint.
Extend this idea - Make
paper cast hands!
- Painting on clay slabs - underglazing techniques - earth tones. See
Amaco lesson plan Cave
Art Revisited
- Rock art ceramic pins. Students make a small thin slab of clay -
carve symbol into clay (personal symbol or rock art inspired). Fire
clay and stain. Use white acrylic brushed on - then off again on red
clay - try brown shoe polish or brown acrylic on white clay. Glue a
pin back. Alternate method - Make a clay stamp - press into clay.
Stamp may be used over and over a gain then to make more pins (perhaps
for a Fund Raiser).
- Rock art stamps - carve into plaster that has been cast in a small
solo drink cup. Use old lino cut tools or wood carving tools. These
stamps may be used to stamp into pots - or frames. Make a clay frame
for a native American art inspired treasure (like foil tooling) -
Frame with the petroglyph stamped clay frame.
- Carving in Drywall board. Cut drywall board to manageable pieces -
easily cuts with utility knife (score then break along mark). Soak
paper off one side. Carve with simple tools - lino tools - wood
carving tools - wire loop tools. Stain with acrylic paints or shoe
polish.
- Collagraph prints. Printing plate made from cardboard, string,
tagboard and/or sand paper - etc. print relief method -- or gesso and
print on an etching press intaglio style. Make an embossed print by
running through etching press with plastic wrap separator to keep
soaked and blotted paper from sticking to plate.
- String cardboard relief - make a paper cast. - cover string relief
with heavy duty foil to make a treasure - antique with India ink.
- Literature Integration - see
this plan for two books to read to children - no hands on lesson
given.
- Kansas
Rock Art: Creating your own Rock Art - Middle school - use
this as a model plan to design one for Rock Art in your area.
- Interpreting
Rock Art of the Anasizi - grade K -2 (adaptable to higher grade
levels)
- Rock Art in Arkansas
- Use as a guide for developing worksheets and web quest. See all
of the lessons plans - Quick facts - photo images and more. Geared to
many different grade levels.
- Rock Art
Drawings - Grades 1 through 8 - has pictograph symbols handout.
- Talking
Rocks - 3rd Grade Lesson Plan by Nancy Ratzloff - ArtsConnected
(adaptable to other grades) - Excellent lesson
- Messages in Rocks
- several lessons from Arizona (no longer on line)
- Petroglyph
People - fun lesson fro Sax - use Model Magic - Air dry clay - or
firing clay (no longer on line)
- Artist:
Ernest Whiteman -ArtsConnectEd Students could
make petroglyph sculptures inspired by Whiteman's work. Cut petroglyph
(or personal symbol) from corrugated cardboard - or foam core board.
Cover with a layer of plaster gauze. Paint with a rust like/iron oxide
patina. Use your handmade chalk to put more symbols on your petroglyph
sculpture - protect with clear spray.
Pre-Historic Cave Painting
(Europe) - some links and lesson plan ideas:
More lessons are available online.
Native American Symbols - Plains
Indians (links submitted by Sara Wren)
