Navajo Art Symbols

Overview

This 60-minute lesson for Year 3 students at Kura ā Iwi o Te Kao explores Navajo art and its cultural significance aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Social Sciences curriculum Levels 1-2. Students will discover key types of Navajo art, their meanings, and create a personal piece inspired by Navajo designs.

Learning Intentions (WALT)

We Are Learning To (WALT):
Understand and describe two types of Navajo art.
Recognise the cultural importance of these art forms.
Create original artwork inspired by Navajo symbols.

Success Criteria

I can name and describe two different types of Navajo art.
I can explain what the art represents or means.
I can create my own artwork using symbols and designs inspired by Navajo culture.

Links to Te Marautanga o Aotearoa

Social Sciences Learning Area

Level 1-2 learning outcomes:

Understand how people live and express their cultural identity through art and stories.
Explore stories and artefacts to build knowledge about different cultures, fostering respect and understanding.
Demonstrate curiosity and engagement when exploring cultural histories and expressions.

Relevant key competencies:

Managing Self: Set goals and complete tasks with confidence.
Relating to Others: Show respect for different cultures and their stories.
Participating and Contributing: Work cooperatively and share ideas.
Thinking: Ask questions and make meaning from their discoveries.
Using Language, Symbols and Texts: Use visual symbols to communicate meaning.

Materials Needed

Prints or images of Navajo textiles (weaving) and sand paintings.
Whiteboards or chart paper for drawing and listing meanings.
Art materials: paper, pencils, coloured markers, crayons, or paints.
Worksheets with simple descriptions of Navajo art symbols.
A quiet space for working on the extension art activity.

Lesson Breakdown (60 minutes)

1. Introduction & Getting Started (10 minutes)

Set the context: Explain that today we will discover Navajo art and learn about their unique symbols and stories.
Show images of two key types of Navajo art: weaving (textiles) and sand paintings.
Briefly explain each type: weaving is used to make strong beautiful cloth with patterns that tell stories; sand paintings are colourful patterns made from sand to help heal or celebrate.

2. Explore & Discuss (15 minutes)

Show more detailed examples of symbols found in Navajo art. Discuss meanings, e.g., shapes representing nature, spiritual ideas, or family.
As a class, create a simple chart on the board listing two art types and associated symbols and meanings. Use easy language with visuals to connect with the young learners.
Use questioning to encourage thinking: “Why do you think these symbols are important?” “What stories might these patterns tell?”

3. Focus Activity – Art Creation (25 minutes)

Provide students with paper and art materials. Ask them to create their own artwork inspired by the two Navajo art forms they learned.
Encourage the use of shapes, lines, and colours they saw.
Walk around to prompt connections: “Which symbol are you using?” “What does your design say or mean?”

4. Share & Reflect (10 minutes)

Invite students to share their artwork and describe the symbols used and what they mean to them.
Reinforce the cultural significance of art in expressing identity and stories.
Summarise and revisit the success criteria, acknowledging students’ achievements.

Extension Activity

Students who complete early or want a challenge can create a more detailed original artwork using a combination of weaving patterns and sand painting symbols.
Encourage thinking about storytelling through design and to include explanations of their symbols in writing or drawing.

Teaching Tips

Use plenty of visuals and storytelling to connect with the cultural content.
Scaffold language with simple key terms and sentence starters about art and culture.
Allow movement breaks or sensory engagement with textured materials (like fabric samples if available).
Incorporate te reo Māori where appropriate to affirm bilingual learning and relate to Māori cultural values around art and identity.

Assessment & Reflection

Use informal observation during discussion and art-making to assess understanding of the success criteria.
Collect artworks and note accompanying explanations of meaning for formative assessment.
Provide encouraging feedback highlighting students’ cultural learning and creativity.

This lesson design promotes intercultural understanding and creativity aligned with Te Marautanga o Aotearoa Social Sciences learning for Year 3 students, fostering positive engagement for tamariki in Māori medium settings, such as Kura ā Iwi o Te Kao.

Teaching Instructions