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A little time in the sun, before we started our project, drawing with sidewalk chalk.
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A full class!
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One of my favorite sources for art projects is Adinkra. These west African symbols are meaningful and fun to draw. I ask the kids to pick 4 symbols that represent traits they admire or aspire to be.
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They drew four symbols in pencil, then oil pastel, then watercolored. They also chose one of the symbols and traced it, transferred it to fun foam and cut out a stamp. We did rubbings of the stamp, on cloth.
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Bill Wechter, a photographer from the North County Times newspaper, visited the class and took photos. Click here to see his photos.
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I had the kids write the African word and the meanings of each symbol on their artwork.
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Adinkra surface design! (They used their stamps and oil pastels to do rubbings on cloth)
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3 comments:
Oh Jane,
I love the Adinkra symbols. Years ago I did a project with my middle schoolers they made huge banners using the symbols.
The kids' work is beautiful.
African art offers such a rich cultural exchange for kids. When I retire can I come and teach with you??????? :)
What a beautiful learning experience! If you are not busy can you come and share at my afterschool program in Dallas? kendra.pratt@gmail.com
Hi I would love to speak with you about your program! Kendra.pratt@gmail.com
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