Lesson Plan
by Ric Breen
Goals: To acquaint students with the presence of rainbows in other cultures.
Behavorial Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Describe various cultural aspects of the Navajo culture and the importance of Rainbows in that society.
2. Orally describe and relate their artwork to an audience.
Grades: k-2
Introduction:
This lesson plan is designed to introduce the student to another cultures. It will expose them to new ideas, beliefs and stories. The student will also be allowed to express their creative and artistic skills in developing and making a sand painting using the children's story and rainbows as a starting point.
Materials:
Colored Sand (pre-colored or students can make their own)
Glue sticks
Pencil
Heavy art or construction paper, various colors
Copies of the story “At The Rainbow’s End”
If students are going to make their own colored sand:
White sand (total amount depends upon number of students)
Bottles of food coloring, several bottles of each color to allow mixing and
creating different colors.
Mineral Oil
Sealable plastic baggies, enough for each student to do at least the 7
primary colors.
Session Length:
2-4 hours, depending upon whether students will be making their own “colored sand.
Procedure:
1. Introduce the importance of rainbows in other cultures by explaining how some of the Native American Indian tribes incorporate rainbows into their culture via beliefs and stories by handing out copy of the Navajo folk story “ At The Rainbow’s End” (see end of lesson plan for copy of story).
2. Before reading story, explain that for the Navajo Indians, Rainbows are seen as good luck and symbols are used to act as guardians of the North, South, East and West sides of their sand paintings.
3. Either read the story aloud with the students following, or use some other technique such as ‘round robin’ and have the students read the story aloud.
4. After the story, discuss, using story mapping, etc., to see how the students felt and understood the story. Also inquire:
a. How does this ‘bed time’ story differ from ones they have heard before?
b. Does this story seem similar to any they have been told?
c. If so, which ones? How is the story different?
5. Have the students collect the art materials; selecting/making the 7 primary colors of the rainbow, glue stick and construction paper.
6. Instruct the students to use a pencil and draw a rainbow, making sure there are 7 layers. They may also draw any other character or designs. Suggest that they try to draw some scene from the story.
7. Using the glue stick, trace over the first layer of the rainbow.
8. Pick up the first color of sand and have them carefully pour the sand over the portion of the rainbow they have just applied glue to, and have them make sure the entire band is completely covered.
9. Once covered, student is to carefully shake the sand from the paper back into the baggie. Enough sand should remain stuck to the glue.
10. Continue until the entire rainbow is completed.
11. Student should also do same procedure to any other figure they have drawn until they are finished with the painting.
12. Seal the baggies, clean up, and hang the painting up to dry.
13. Once everyone is done, and the paintings have dried (they may have to wait till the next day), have each student explain to the class what their painting means.
TEKS:
Social Studies: 113.2(K), 113.4(1st grade), 113.5(2nd grade)
English, Language Arts for:110.2 (K), 110.3(1st grade),110.4(2nd grade)
Fine Arts: 117.1(Art-K)117.5(Art-1st), 117.8(Art-2nd)
RUBRIK:
