Lesson Overview:
Students discuss the process of storytelling and listening to stories. Then, they create a listening doll in the tradition of the Native American storyteller dolls.
Length of Lesson:
Two 45-minute periods
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- learn about Native American storyteller dolls.
- create their own image of a person listening to a story.
- discuss and assess the various listening dolls created by the class.
Supplies:
- Modeling clay
- Fabric scraps
- Glue
- Plastic or wooden clay tools
- Vinyl tablecloth materials cut into 14" x 20" pieces
- Yarn and/or string
Instructional Plan:
Introduction
Discuss with the students what they like best about listening to a story. Ask them:
- How do you like to sit, stand or lay when you listen to a story?
- Where do you like to listen to stories?
- What do you like to wear best when you listen to a story?
Tell students about the Native American Pueblo communities in the Southwest. Tell students that, traditionally, storytellers held a place of great importance in these communities. The older members of the tribe would help preserve the culture and heritage of the tribes by telling traditional folktales and historical stories to the younger generations.
Tell students that the Pueblo people also have a great tradition of clay sculpture; they were especially good at creating small figures of people or animals. The Pueblos combined their skill at sculpture with their love of storytelling and began a tradition of creating "storyteller dolls."
A storyteller doll was usually a small clay sculpture of a man or a woman. The figure always was depicted with its mouth open to indicate that it was entertaining listeners with songs or stories that conveyed the culture of the people. The storyteller was always accompanied by several “listener figures.” Usually, these listeners were children that were being taught by the elder storyteller.
Tell students that they will be creating their own listening dolls. Demonstrate how to roll, mold, and attack pieces of modeling clay (Refer to the information in the handouts on Sculptural Processes, Vocabulary, and Working with Clay.)
Independent Practice
Distribute clay to the students. Remind students that the listening dolls should be small and portable — between 5 and 7 inches, from head to toe. Allow students to begin shaping the body of the doll. After the figures are completed, students should create clothing by gluing fabric to the doll. Students may add further details to the clothing, as well as other features, using materials such as string or yarn.
Closure
Place all finished dolls in one area of the room as if they are all listening to a story. Let students examine each of the dolls without touching them, paying specific attention to details and expressions on each of the dolls. Assign one doll to each student and ask him/her to answer the following questions in writing or orally.
- How did the artist express "listening" in the doll (Look at pose, expression, color, clothes, etc.)?
- Can you tell by looking at the expression and pose of the doll what kind of a story it is hearing?
Allow students to discuss their findings/opinions with the rest of the class.
Assessment:
Using the closure activity, ask each student to evaluate his/her own work based on the following Listening Doll Rubric, to be used by both the students and the teacher.
Extensions:
Have students read a story to their dolls, or have the dolls listen with the students when the teacher reads a story to the class.
Allow students to create an environment in which to house their dolls.
Allow students to create a companion storyteller doll.
Sources:
Print:
- Babcock, Barbara. The Pueblo Storyteller: Development of a Figurative Ceramic Tradition. Phoenix, AZ: University of Arizona Press, 1990.
- Churchill, A. Art for Preadolescents. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970.
- Gaitskill, C. and Hurwitz, A. Children and Their Art: Methods for the Elementary School. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984.
Web:
Authors:
-
Joyce Payne, Arts Education Consultant
West Barnstable, MA
