Lesson Overview:
Students will learn about the cultural and visual art traditions of coastal American Indian tribes. They will discuss the Native American barter system of economics, and explore wampum as a form of exchange. Students will make a wampum belt using plastic straws and beads.
Length of Lesson:
Two 45-minute class periods
Notes:
This lesson is particularly suitable for grade 4.
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- learn about the cultural traditions of coastal American Indian tribes
- make a wampum belt using cut straw pieces, beads, felt, and yarn.
- explore aspects of daily lives of coastal American Indian tribes
Supplies:
- Large United States map
- Post-it© notes
- Plastic straws, cut into quarter-inch pieces
- Purple pony beads
- Cardboard, cut into 8"x 2" rectangles
- White glue
- Bowls and blue brushes
- Strips of felt to wrap around students' waists
- Velcro adhesive dots
Instructional Plan:
Warm Up
Discuss the different tribes that lived along the coasts of America. List on the board the following tribes: Algonquin and Cree tribes, located all around the Great Lakes Area; the Delaware tribe, who lived from Lake Erie to the Delaware coast; the Iroquois, Mohegan and Seneca tribes, located in New York state; the Wampanog and Narraganset tribes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island; the Seminoles and Muskogee in Florida and Georgia; the Chicock and Makah, who lived from Alaska to Northern California; and the Inuit, located in Alaska and Northern Canada.
Give students the names of the tribes and their location. Ask students to print each tribe’s name on a Post-it© note and place the note on the appropriate place on the map.
Have students look at an online Native American chart. This is a simple chart that students can use to find information about the habitat, food, customs, and art of many American Indian tribes. The chart, which was created by elementary students, includes many photographs.
Directed Instruction
Do a KWL chart on American Indian art focusing on types of materials used to make art. After listing all the materials and if shells are not on the list-add shells. Distribute the All About Wampum handout to the class, and discuss the cultural tradition.
Tell students that they will each make a wampum belt. Demonstrate to students the following process of how to make a wampum belt:
- Lay cardboard on a flat surface
- Paint one side of the cardboard with a thick coat of white glue. Wait until glue becomes tacky.
- Using the cut straws and the purple pony beads create a design on the cardboard by placing the pieces on the glue
- Explain to students that the bead design must dry overnight. For additional support, brush over the finished design with glue and dry completely.
Independent Practice
Distribute cardboard and supplies to students and monitor their progress. (Note: You may wish to have older students create their design on graph paper first, and then transfer it to the cardboard) When designs are completed pass out felt strips long enough to wrap around each student's waist and overlap about two to three inches. Fold the felt in half and mark the halfway point. Glue the cardboard wampum design to the center of the belt and dry overnight. Attach Velcro dots on both ends of the belt to fit each student's waist.
Once students have completed their wampum belts, have them sit in a circle with their belts on and discuss the aspects of daily life of Native Americans. For example, as a tribe what would they want from the European traders in exchange for their belts? Discuss what types of items in today's society are considered equally valuable as money and what would be considered a fair trade for those items.
Assessment:
Have students model their belts in the class, and ask them to compare and contrast the different designs they created. Use the Assessment Rubric to evaluate your students'understanding.
Sources:
Print:
- Exploring Social Studies: Book 1 (GR 4-6). The Education Center, Inc.
- Hausman, Gerald. The Sun Horse: Native Visions of the New World. Ca., Lotus Press, 1992.
- Schaaf, Gregory. Wampum Belts and Peace Trees. NY, Fulcrum Publishing, 1990.
- Tehanetorens, Ray. Wampum Belts of the Iroguois. NY, Book Publishing Co., 1999.
Web:
Authors:
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Eileen Ewald, Teacher
Thomas Pullen Arts Magnet School
Landover, MD
