Tōga-Inspired Patterns

Overview

In this 35-minute art lesson, students will explore Samoan cultural art by creating patterns inspired by traditional tōga (Samoan mats). Although the real tōga are woven, students will produce painted designs that celebrate the significance of these mats in Samoan culture, focusing on symmetry and floral patterns inspired by Samoan motifs. This lesson integrates tangata whenua values by acknowledging Pacific cultural art and connects directly to the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's emphasis on cultural awareness, pattern exploration, and creating visual art.

Curriculum Links

Learning Area: The Arts – Visual Arts
Levels: Years 4-5 (The Arts Level 2)
Strands:

• Developing ideas in response to stimulus
• Practising skills and techniques (patterns, symmetry)
• Understanding arts in cultural contexts

Key Competencies:

• Thinking: Problem-solving in design and pattern-making
• Relating to others: Respect for cultural arts
• Using language, symbols, and texts: Recognising and communicating through visual patterns

Achievement Objectives:

• Develop ideas through exploration and play with materials and techniques
• Use elements such as pattern, symmetry, and repetition in artworks
• Explore how visual language can represent cultural identity and meaning

Learning Objectives and Success Criteria

Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will:

• Understand the cultural significance of tōga mats in Samoan culture as objects of celebration and respect.
• Create symmetrical and floral patterns inspired by Samoan art motifs using pencil and vivid colours.
• Use drawing and painting techniques to produce clear and vibrant patterns on dyed paper squares.
• Work collaboratively to assemble their panels into a collective class decoration.

Success Criteria
Students will be able to:

• Explain the importance of tōga mats in Samoan culture during class discussions or reflections.
• Demonstrate the ability to draw symmetrical patterns in opposite quadrants of their practice paper.
• Accurately create a large floral pattern in one quadrant using pencil before applying colour.
• Use vivid colours neatly and consistently to enhance their pattern designs on dyed paper squares.
• Collaborate respectfully with peers to assemble their individual artworks into a cohesive class tōga mat.
• Reflect thoughtfully on how their artwork connects to Samoan cultural celebration and identity.

Materials

• Dyed square paper pieces (prepared beforehand)
• Goose paper (practice paper) divided into four quadrants, ruled with pencil lines
• Pencils, erasers
• Vivid colour markers/paints
• Glue sticks or PVA glue
• Examples/photos of Samoan patterns and tōga mats (printed or digital)
• Whiteboard or visual easel for teacher demonstration

Lesson Breakdown

Introduction (5 minutes)

• Briefly introduce tōga mats and their cultural importance in Samoan celebrations and ceremonies, explaining that these mats are traditionally woven but today, students will create pattern-inspired artwork representing tōga designs.
• Show photo examples of Samoan patterns focusing on geometric shapes, symmetry, and floral motifs.
• Explain the structure of today’s task: four quadrants on their practice paper, two symmetrical corners, and a large flower on another quadrant.

Guided Practice (10 minutes)

• Distribute the dyed square papers to students for their final pattern work, but first:
• Hand out goose paper sheets divided into four quadrants.
• Model drawing patterns on the board and demonstrate how to create symmetrical patterns in opposite corners of the page. Use think-aloud strategies to show planning and symmetry awareness.
• Guide them to sketch their designs lightly with pencil: symmetrical patterns in opposite corners; a large flower in one of the remaining quadrants.
• Circulate and provide individual feedback, encouraging neatness and creativity.

Independent Work (15 minutes)

• After pencil sketches are checked by the teacher, students begin applying vivid colours to their patterns on both practice paper and then their dyed square.
• Students focus on creating clean, clear lines and vibrant colours inspired by Samoan traditional art styles.
• Encourage reflection: How do these patterns represent celebration in Samoan culture?

Assembly and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Collect the dyed squares and glue them together as a large class tōga mat decoration.
• Gather students to admire their collective creation.
• Facilitate a short reflection: What did you learn about Samoan art? How did working on a tōga help you understand cultural celebration?

Assessment

Formative:

• Observe students’ ability to translate cultural pattern inspirations into symmetrical and floral designs.
• Check students’ use of pencil planning before colouring for neatness and understanding of symmetry.
• Listen to reflections and discussions about cultural significance to gauge understanding.

Summative:

• Final painted designs demonstrate development of pattern skills and application of cultural concepts.
• The completed class tōga visually represents collective learning.

Differentiation

• Provide additional stencils or pattern cards for those needing more support.
• Encourage advanced students to experiment with more complex patterns or additional elements like border patterns.

Cultural Responsiveness

• Acknowledge and respect Samoan cultural artistic traditions.
• Use appropriate Pacific vocabulary when discussing tōga and patterns.
• Encourage students of Pacific heritage to share their knowledge or family stories related to tōga.

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This lesson plan directly aligns with The New Zealand Curriculum Refresh's focus on exploring and practicing visual arts skills rooted in cultural understanding and pattern recognition, fostering key competencies and supporting students' identity and creativity through tangible art-making connected to the Pacific context. The structured, scaffolded activities fit the attention span of Years 4-5 students and engage 17 students effectively within 35 minutes.