Traditional African American Quilts
student artwork
Cultures - Traditional African American Quilts - Pattern, Rhythm, Harmony
5th Grade

Materials:
o Paper
o Construction paper
o Glue

Resources:
o Pictures of quilts
o Scissors

Vocabulary:
o Pattern: art elements in planned or random repetitions
o Rhythm: repetition of visual movement of the elements of art
o Harmony: (Unity) creates cohesive quality that completes artwork.
o Folk art: art made by amateurs who do not expect to sell artwork; is often considered naive
o Disenfranchised art: by artists not traditionally recognized as "fine artists" (e.g., by women, minorities, non-Europeans, disabled)
o Family traditions: rituals or activities done at specific times or events by a family (e.g.., BBQ on July 4th, having political arguments during get-togethers, video night)
o Personal symbol: an object that represents something important to the individual (e.g., muscle car = machismo, pressed flower = first love, coffee cup = quiet alone time in morning before school)

Objectives (Arkansas Dept. of Education Art Standards):
o Recognize why and how different cultures make art (A.1.3., A.1.5., A.1.6., A.3.1, A.3.6.)
o Recognize how art tradition can change through time (A.1.8., A.3.6.)
o Make art using personal symbols (A.1.1, A.1.2., A.1.4, A.2.1, A.2.2., A.2.3., A.2.5, A.2.6, A.2.7, A.3.1
o Present and discuss own artwork (A.3.1, A.3.3, A.3.5, A.3.6.)

Introduction:
o Show pictures of and discuss traditional cloth-making and design in Western Africa (Kente and Ewe cloth)
o Show pictures of and discuss different quilts made in an African American familiy in Arkansas
o Discuss traditional styles and uses of materials
o Discuss how families carry on traditions (things they do) and how they create personal meaning and symbols for the artist
o Demonstrate thumbnail sketches for design

Activity:
o Create thumbnail sketches of various quilt designs (be general)
o Make a "quilt" using cut and/or torn construction paper in traditional style

Critique:
o Each student displays work, describes how they made design choices in the quilt

Assessment:
o Student participation during discussion and critique
o Analysis of involvement in activity and final paintings
lesson plan may be shared, but page is Copyright 2006, William Van Horn