Written by: Judy Decker Unit Theme: Animals in Art - Abstraction- African Art -Textile Design Grade Level: Sixth Grade Time frame: two to three weeks (depending on resources available)  Project: Paper Weaving (using Photocopier) Art work by Bunki Kramer's students Los Cerros Middle School Art , Danville, California For a detailed lesson - including curriculum objectives - assorted resources See African Art  Unit Plan. This plan will only go into how this is done without new technology Resources: African Art Internet Lesson - African Textile Design.  Odyssey Online: Africa - See Animal Symbolism Matching Game          Materials: 9 x 12 newprint 9x12 white tag board (or drawing paper), pencils, rulers African Design Handouts  Fadeless paper (11x14) Fine point black permanent markers - Watercolor markers (Overwriters may be used) - Black poster board scissors - X-acto knives laminator (optional) Scratch foam (or erasers for stamps) - stamp pads glue (sewing machine opt.) 1.      Present vocabulary (See African Unit Plan - You decide how much to include). Present examples of African Textile design via the Internet - PowerPoint - Art Prints - books - slides (St. Louis Museum has an excellent slide collection of textile designs) -- Demonstrate lesson steps 2.      After viewing and discussing short video on African textile design (or PowerPoint), students will begin designs for paper weaving— drawing woven with photocopied image. They will abstract any animal of their choosing - makes sketches on 9 x 12 newsprint. They will have several idea papers at tables, but will be encouraged to come up with something original (from their own experiences). Use textile designs and handouts for border motifs. Animal should be centered in 7”x 9-10” area of 9x12 white tag board (or drawing paper). Draw approximate 1" border all around using ruler. (I left the PowerPoint looping throughout the class studio time for student to view). 3.      Students will transfer animal drawing to center 9"x12" white tag board (or heavy drawing paper) - centering to create a border all around. Border can anywhere from 1" for 1 1/5". 4.      Students will design a border related to animal design. Use ideas from African textiles Use symbols to represent animal habitat Use symbols to represent needs (food chain) Use symbols to represent nature/life 5.      Outline design with fine point and/or ultra fine point black permanent markers . NOTE: Once students had their designs outlined, I photocopied them (it is best to photocopy onto index stock). The students then colored both the original drawing and the main animal part of the photocopy. The inside part of the photocopy is used to weave with the original. Only the original drawing needs the border design. Students must show careful use of color planning so both colored drawings work well together - and with the border design. 6.      Color design with watercolor Markers (Overwriters markers can be used - Overwirters have a tendency to fade after a couple of years) - color plan and patterns are important.  Include subtle pattern in negative space. Some of the most striking weavings were ones that had just a fine line pattern done with ultra fine Sharpie in the negative space - with the negative space then being one main color. 7.     When finished coloring - Students will weave the two together for an interesting textural effect. Photocopied animal design should match up with the original marker drawing when completed.   (Laminating prior to weaving is optional - WE did find that laminated pieces tended to slip out too easily). Cut original drawing with x-acto knife up to the border designs to create the warp - spacing 1/4" to 1/2" - wider apart if students have difficulty. (It is helpful in weaving if cut slightly - about 1/8 - past the border line. This makes it easier to get in the last strip). Cut the photocopied drawing a few strips at a time - number strips to help keep organized.  We found it easier to weave without laminating. In experimenting--we discovered it necessary to clip a tiny bit off of some of the cut strips to get the design to match (a little sliver off every third strip worked for most). Even if the weaving is slightly off -- the results are still striking 8.  Assessment: Student self evaluation- critique Class critique Modified Rubric: design, color plan, patterns, weaving skills (does design match up?). 9.    Mounting options: Mount on monoprinted border design or stamp printed border (students may make their own stamps using scrap scratch foam or use a variety of stamp sets).  If desired: Teacher will sew to black poster board for display.   To finish: Tape strips in place on back side. Select 11 x 14 fadeless paper that will enhance weaving. Make a stamp to pattern border (students can share stamps). Glue stamp to small block of wood. Stamp border design all around - may use Adinkra stamps provided if desired. Glue weaving to fadeless paper -- mount on black poster board (cut at least 13" x 16" - larger for more of a black border). (Note: I sewed all to board with zig zag stitch on the sewing machine - around outside edge of fadeless paper - around weaving - and down the sides where strips were cut from drawn border. This added textural interest and gave more a look of textile design. Bunki did not sew her students' work) [BACK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSONS]  [ART HOME] [AFRICA INTERNET LESSON] [AFRICA LINKS]