Bengali Scroll Paintings Lesson Plan

Bengali Scroll Paintings

India's Hindu population celebrates Diwali with these colorful scrolls. Make similar paintings and explore this cultural art form.

1. Research the customs of India, the country's Bengali scroll painters (patua or chitrakar) and the artworks they produce (pats). Parallel their works of art to that of contemporary cartoonists, storytellers, and folklorists in various countries. Compare both technique and subject matter. Find out about the Hindu celebration of Diwali.

2. On a long sheet of rolled paper, use Crayola® Markers to draw several panels that tell a story in a style similar to that of a Bengali scroll. Each panel should be a simple but independent image that relates to the next image in sequence. Use bright colors.

3. Roll up the ends of the scroll. Tell your pats story as you unroll each row of panels.

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.

Create replicas of scrolls from other cultures, such as ancient Rome or the American West.
Scrolls stimulate creative writing. Students respond, in both language and images, to their reading by creating a scroll book-report.
Invite someone in the community from India to talk with the class about Bengali scroll paintings and how their family celebrates Diwali.