Indigenous Art of the Americas: Symbolism

Active learning works for this topic because students need to experience how symbols carry meaning beyond literal representation. Through hands-on creation and discussion, they will see how Indigenous artists communicate ideas, emotions, and cultural values without relying on realistic forms.

• Grade 6
• The Arts
• 3 activities
• 20 min–45 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how specific symbols, such as animal figures or geometric shapes, represent ancestral stories and connections to the natural world in Indigenous art.
2. Explain the relationship between the preservation of traditional Indigenous art forms and the maintenance of cultural identity.
3. Differentiate the symbolic meanings of common colors and forms used in various Indigenous artistic traditions.
4. Compare and contrast the craftsmanship and symbolic intent in two different Indigenous art forms, such as Haida totem poles and Navajo weaving.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Cubist Puzzle

Groups take a photo of a common object (like a chair) and cut it into geometric pieces. They must reassemble it from multiple 'viewpoints' at once to create a Cubist-style collage that shows the object's 'essence.'

Prepare & details

Analyze how traditional symbols convey ancestral stories and connections to nature.

Facilitation Tip: During the Cubist Puzzle, provide each group with a printed image of a Cubist artwork and scissors so they can physically manipulate the composition to understand how fragmenting shapes creates new meanings.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Surrealist Dreams

Show a Surrealist painting (like Dali's melting clocks). Pairs discuss: 'If this painting were a dream, what would the dreamer be feeling?' and 'Why did the artist choose to make these objects look 'wrong'?'

Prepare & details

Explain how the preservation of traditional art is linked to cultural identity.

Facilitation Tip: For the Surrealist Dreams activity, give students exactly 5 minutes to sketch their dream before writing, ensuring they focus on the process of translating abstract thoughts into visual ideas.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Case Study Analysis

⏱ 30 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: The 'Is It Art?' Debate

Show a controversial modern work (like a blank canvas or a 'ready-made' object). Students move to different sides of the room based on whether they think it is 'art' or 'not art,' then must explain their reasoning using artistic vocabulary.

Prepare & details

Differentiate the symbolic meanings of colors and forms in Indigenous art.

Facilitation Tip: During the 'Is It Art?' Debate, assign roles (e.g., artist, critic, cultural representative) to structure the discussion and prevent vague opinions from dominating.

Setup: Groups at tables with case materials

Materials: Case study packet (3-5 pages), Analysis framework worksheet, Presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Approach this topic by first grounding students in concrete examples of Indigenous symbolism before introducing abstraction. Avoid starting with Modernist theory—instead, let students analyze Indigenous artworks first to see how symbols already communicate complex ideas. Research shows that students grasp abstraction better when they see it as a natural extension of symbolism, not a rejection of it.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining the symbolic meanings in Indigenous artworks and connecting those meanings to broader cultural or natural themes. They should also demonstrate an understanding that abstraction requires intentionality, not randomness.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Collaborative Investigation: The Cubist Puzzle, watch for students who dismiss Cubist art as 'just random shapes' without considering the intentional arrangement of fragmented forms.

What to Teach Instead

Prompt students to rearrange the pieces until they form a balanced composition, then ask them to explain why certain arrangements feel more 'correct'—this reveals the thought behind abstraction.

Common Misconception

During Think-Pair-Share: Surrealist Dreams, watch for students who claim Surrealist art has 'no meaning' because it doesn’t look realistic.

What to Teach Instead

After the quick sketch, have students write three words describing their dream, then ask them to explain how those words connect to their symbols. This highlights how abstraction conveys emotion.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Collaborative Investigation: The Cubist Puzzle, provide students with images of two different Indigenous artworks. Ask them to write one sentence explaining a symbol in each artwork and one sentence on how that symbol connects to nature or ancestral stories.

Discussion Prompt

During Whole Class: The 'Is It Art?' Debate, pose the question: 'How does creating or preserving traditional art help an Indigenous community maintain its cultural identity?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to reference specific examples of art forms and their meanings.

Quick Check

After Think-Pair-Share: Surrealist Dreams, show students a slide with several common Indigenous art symbols (e.g., raven, bear, sun). Ask students to write down the potential symbolic meaning of each symbol based on what they have learned, or to identify which symbol represents a specific concept like 'creation' or 'family'.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to create their own abstract artwork using only symbols from Indigenous art, then write a short artist statement explaining their choices.
• For students who struggle, provide a word bank of Indigenous symbols and their meanings to scaffold their analysis during the Cubist Puzzle.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local Indigenous artist to discuss how they use symbols in their work, then have students compare their own abstract pieces to traditional examples.

Key Vocabulary

Totem Pole	A tall wooden pole carved with symbols or figures representing a family, clan, or significant event, often found among Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Symbolism	The use of images, objects, or colors to represent abstract ideas or qualities, conveying deeper meanings beyond their literal appearance.
Cultural Identity	The sense of belonging to a group based on shared customs, traditions, language, and history, often reinforced through artistic expression.
Textile Weaving	The process of creating fabric by interlacing threads or yarns, often incorporating intricate patterns and symbolic designs specific to Indigenous cultures.
Form	The shape and structure of an artwork, which in Indigenous art can carry specific symbolic meanings related to nature or spiritual beliefs.