Cultures in Art

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Lesson Overview

Grade: 1st Grade
Subject: Social Studies
Focus Area: Understanding community diversity and unity through cultural storytelling in art
Standards Addressed:

• NCSS Standard: Culture - Explains how shared traditions and practices connect people within a community.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1: Participates in collaborative conversations with peers about grade-appropriate topics.
• Visual Arts Anchor Standard #2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

Duration: 30 Minutes
Class Size: 23 Students

Lesson Objectives

1. Introduce students to diverse cultural art practices.
2. Develop an understanding of community through storytelling-inspired art elements.
3. Work collaboratively to foster appreciation for diversity and interconnections in a community.
4. Create unique quilt squares based on cultural art influences.

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Materials Needed

• Large white paper squares (one per student)
• Crayons, markers, or colored pencils
• Ruler for geometric patterns
• Pictures/examples of: Faith Ringgold's quilts, Native American Ledger Art, Lakota Star Quilts
• Document camera or large screen for projection
• Pre-made teacher example of a quilt square
• Easel board or whiteboard for guiding steps

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction & Framing the Question (2 minutes)

• Greet students and introduce today’s focus: exploring how cultural art tells stories about who we are and where we live.
• Write and ask the class:
  “How can art inspired by storytelling and patterns help us learn about our community?”
• Explain the activity: Each student will create a quilt square that shows something meaningful about their community, adding key elements inspired by cultural art practices:
  1. A special place in the community.
  2. Borders that tell a story.
  3. A scene from community life.
  4. Patterns symbolizing connections (inspired by geometry).

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2. Share and Model the Art Workshop (5 minutes)

Mini-Lesson 1: Faith Ringgold’s Storytelling Quilts

• Show a picture of Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach quilt.
• Highlight the borders filled with colorful designs and words, explaining that they tell a story about memories or events.
• Activity: Sketch a meaningful place in the classroom together as a practice (e.g., the local library or school). Add a storytelling phrase to the border, such as “We learn and laugh here.”

Mini-Lesson 2: Native American Ledger Art

• Show an example of bold, narrative community scenes in Native American Ledger Art.
• Explain how these images tell stories about people’s daily lives.
• Activity: Ask students to think of a favorite moment in their community (e.g., playing at a park, family dinners). Quickly sketch an example of a park scene.

Mini-Lesson 3: Lakota Star Quilts

• Display examples of Lakota Star Quilts, explaining how their geometric patterns celebrate family connections and stories.
• Show how a simple star or triangle pattern can represent bonds between people.
• Activity: Use the document camera to demonstrate drawing a geometric star pattern in one corner of the quilt square.

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3. Guided Creation (15 minutes)

Step 1: Sketch the Centerpiece (5 minutes)

• Students create the centerpiece of their quilt square: a meaningful place in the community (e.g., a school, playground, store).
• Provide individual help as they begin their sketches.

Step 2: Add Storytelling Borders (3 minutes)

• Encourage the students to add a border incorporating words or images describing the community place. Example phrases for inspiration:
  • “This is where we come together.”
  • “I play here with my family and friends.”

Step 3: Add a Community Scene (3 minutes)

• Students draw an event or interaction from their community in the quilt square, such as people walking dogs or playing soccer.

Step 4: Pattern Symbolism (4 minutes)

• Guide students to add geometric patterns that symbolize connections (e.g., triangles representing their family, lines connecting friends).

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4. Group Discussion (5 minutes)

• Transition into a short circle discussion to reflect on the quilt square activity. Use these guiding prompts:
  1. “What place did you draw for your quilt square, and why is it important to your community?”
  2. “How do you think the patterns and borders show connections we share?”
  3. “What do we learn about each other when we see everyone’s different squares?”

Encourage as many students as possible to share their thoughts.

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5. Reflection & Next Steps (3 minutes)

• Explain that their squares will soon come together into a big class quilt that celebrates their unique community! This will be displayed in the hallway or classroom.
• Reinforce the idea that while our community is made up of many different people and places, the quilt shows how we’re all connected.
• Next-Step Activity: Students will finish coloring and refining their quilt squares in the next art period and prepare to present them to the class during a gallery walk.

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Assessment (Informal)

• Observe students during the activity to gauge engagement and participation.
• Ask clarifying questions to ensure they can explain their drawings and how they relate to their community.
• Use the group discussion to evaluate their ability to make connections between cultural art and the concept of unity in diversity.

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Teacher Resources

• Pre-Made Quilt Square Example: It should include a local library in the center, borders reading “A place for everyone!” and simple geometric triangle patterns inspired by the Lakota Star Quilt.
• Visual Aids: Color-printed or projected high-quality images of:
  • Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach
  • Native American Ledger Art
  • Lakota Star Quilts

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Extensions for Cross-Curricular Connections

• Math: Explore symmetry and shapes in Lakota Star Quilts.
• Writing: Write a short story about the community place they sketched on their quilt square.
• History: Learn about the cultural significance of quilts and storytelling in Native and African American art traditions.

This lesson not only connects to Social Studies and art but also encourages 1st-grade students to develop pride in their own stories and appreciation for their classmates’ diverse experiences!