Art of Mexico (5th)

So I was working on planning my next 5th grade lesson a few weeks back when I was told that I needed to have a student display of artwork recognizing 'Hispanic Heritage Month' for a school event coming up. So I decided to do a week long 'Art of Mexico' lesson with my 5th graders.

Personally I've found 5th grade to be the hardest group management-wise to work with (because of their class sizes, noise-levels, and physical presence in the room)... but found during an earlier project, that if I separated them into different groups working on different things, I could keep them more focused on their projects. So I decided to go crazy and try doing a week project in which students freely moved amongst 3 centers: Zapotec Weaving, Aztec Suns, and Amate Bark Paintings.

On Monday we all looked at a PowerPoint reviewing the historical background of each center and I had students fill out the information they learned in a brochure we made (we even filled in a map to see where the indigenous groups lived!). Students also used this brochure to create sketches of their project ideas.
Then from Tuesday-Friday I had students moving freely throughout the centers. It was absolute chaos with 3 completely different projects going on at the same time -- but somehow.. it worked. Maybe I am getting the hang of this. :)

My centers (I copied and pasted this from my online lesson planner - so please ignore the odd wording.):

• Zapotec Weaving:
• Students will begin with a piece of black or tan 9"x12" paper as their base paper. Students will select 2-3 additional pieces of colored construction paper to make geometric patterns/shapes with to add to their "weavings". The teacher will demonstrate how to cut the paper into strips, fold it, and then cut it to create symmetrical shapes/pattern strips. These pieces will be carefully glued down. When the patterns are completed, students will use a hole puncher and punch holes along the left and right hand sides of the paper. Using bits of scrap yarn, students will tie their yarn into the holes to create a fringe.
• Aztec Suns:
• Students will create their own aztec sun replicas. They will begin with a paper plate whose outside rim may be cut down to create wavy points (sun rays). These will then be painted gold using gold tempera paint. Using a circle stencil, students will cut out a face for their sun using construction paper. This circle will eventually be glued down onto the center of their cut paper plate. Additional detail such as facial features and additional lines/shapes/pattern will be added using an assortment of materials (including sharpie, construction paper crayon, paint, sequins, etc.).
• Amate Bark Painting:
• Students will create their own amate bark paintings by drawing their designs (in pencil) onto a piece of brown paper (cut down from a brown paper bag). Using an assortment of pre-mixed tempera paints (from an earlier 3rd grade project), students will paint their images onto their "bark paper". Once dried, students will use sharpie markers to create black outlines around their images to really make them pop. Then they will crumple it (to create the illusion of bark texture) and then lay it flat.

If you are interested in a more thoroughly explained lesson plan with visuals, teacher and student directions, and all the other resources I used, check out my store!

Also available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!