Visual & Performing Arts · 1st Grade · Art History and Global Traditions · Weeks 28-36

Art from Indigenous Cultures: Storytelling through Symbols

Students will examine art from various indigenous cultures, understanding how symbols, patterns, and colors are used to tell stories and represent beliefs.

• Common Core State Standards
• NCAS: Connecting VA.Cn11.1.1
• NCAS: Creating VA.Cr1.1.1

About This Topic

Museums are like giant treasure chests for the world's most important objects. In this topic, first graders learn about the role of the museum in collecting, preserving, and displaying art. They explore the job of a curator, the person who chooses which art to show, and learn about the 'rules' of a museum, like not touching the art. This aligns with standards for presenting art and understanding how art is shared with the public.

Learning about museums helps students develop respect for the work of others and an understanding of cultural heritage. It also introduces them to the idea of 'curation', the act of making choices to tell a specific story. This topic comes alive when students can 'curate' their own classroom museum and take turns being the 'museum guides' for their peers.

Key Questions

1. Interpret the stories conveyed through symbols in indigenous artworks.
2. Compare the use of color and pattern in different indigenous art forms.
3. Design a personal symbol that represents an important idea or feeling.

Learning Objectives

• Identify symbols and patterns used in artworks from at least two different indigenous cultures.
• Compare the use of specific colors and their symbolic meanings across different indigenous art forms.
• Explain how symbols and patterns in indigenous art convey stories or beliefs.
• Design a personal symbol that represents an important idea or feeling, using learned principles of symbolic representation.

Before You Start

Introduction to Shapes and Patterns

Why: Students need to be able to identify and describe basic shapes and recognize repeating patterns before analyzing them in artwork.

Expressing Ideas Through Drawing

Why: Students should have experience using drawing to communicate simple ideas or feelings to be able to design their own symbol.

Key Vocabulary

Symbol	A picture or object that stands for an idea, a feeling, or a message.
Indigenous	The original people of a particular land or region, whose ancestors have lived there for a very long time.
Pattern	A design or shape that repeats over and over again.
Motif	A repeated element, such as a symbol or pattern, that has a special meaning in art.
Representation	The way something is shown or depicted in art, often to communicate an idea or story.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Museums are only for 'old' things.

What to Teach Instead

Show examples of modern art museums or children's museums. Explain that museums keep things that are 'important,' and importance can be about the past, the present, or even the future.

Common Misconception

You have to be an 'expert' to enjoy a museum.

What to Teach Instead

Emphasize that everyone's opinion of art is valid. Use a 'I see, I think, I wonder' routine to show students that their own observations are the most important part of a museum visit.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Classroom Museum

Students bring in an object from home (or use a piece of their own art). They must write a 'label' explaining why it is important and then work together to decide which objects should be grouped together in 'galleries.'

60 min·Whole Class

Role Play: Museum Guides

Pairs take turns being the 'guide' and the 'visitor.' The guide must explain one piece of art in the room, including who made it and why it is special, while the visitor practices 'museum manners' (looking with eyes, not hands).

25 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: The Curator's Choice

Give pairs three different pictures of art but only one 'frame.' They must discuss and agree on which one should be the 'centerpiece' of their imaginary museum and explain their reasoning to the class.

20 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Native American artists today continue to create art using traditional symbols and patterns, such as the geometric designs found on Navajo rugs or the totem poles carved by Pacific Northwest tribes. These artworks tell stories about family, history, and the natural world.
• Museums like the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. collect, preserve, and display art from indigenous peoples worldwide, helping to share their rich cultural heritage and stories with new generations.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Show students images of artworks from two different indigenous cultures. Ask them to point to one symbol in each artwork and explain what they think it might represent, based on class discussions. Record student responses.

Discussion Prompt

Present a simple, repeated pattern from an indigenous artwork. Ask students: 'What do you notice about this pattern? How might the artist use this repeating shape to tell a story or show something important?' Facilitate a brief class discussion.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small piece of paper. Ask them to draw one symbol that represents their favorite animal or a feeling they often have. They should write one sentence explaining what their symbol means.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I explain why we can't touch art in a museum?

Use the 'invisible oils' analogy. Explain that our hands have tiny bits of oil that can slowly 'eat' the art over many years. We don't touch it because we want the art to stay beautiful for children who will visit a hundred years from now.

What is a 'curator' in simple terms?

A curator is like a 'storyteller with objects.' They are the ones who decide which pieces of art go together to help the visitors learn something new or feel a certain way.

How can active learning help students understand the role of a museum?

Active learning turns the classroom into a living laboratory. By creating their own museum, students experience the 'behind-the-scenes' work of labeling, organizing, and protecting art. This hands-on experience makes the abstract concept of 'preservation' concrete and helps them understand the value of keeping certain objects safe for the public.

How do I make a virtual museum tour engaging for 1st graders?

Give them a 'scavenger hunt' list of things to find in the virtual gallery (e.g., 'find a painting with a dog' or 'find a sculpture made of metal'). This keeps them focused and active rather than just passively watching a screen.

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