Fire, Earth, & Sky
Explore how native peoples viewed fire, Earth, and sky. Sail to the Pacific Coast of Northwest America to make a triple 3-D display!
1. Research information about the native people of the American Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Explore different cultures such as the Chipewyan, Copper, Eskimo, Haida, Huron, Ingalik, Innu, Kaska, Ktunaxa, Kutenai, Kwakiutl, Makah, Micmac, Montagnais, Saulteaux, Secwepemc, and Slavey. What makes each culture unique? Which culture has attributes that resonate, or stand out, for you?
2. In groups of three, choose one culture to research. Find out how the people view the world’s elements--fire, Earth, and sky. The Kwakiutl (kwak-ootl), who originally lived in the forests along the coast of what is now called British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Ceremonies and traditions were important features of the Kwakiutl culture.
3. Explore the paintings of J.E.H. MacDonald including his Mist Fantasy. Study photographs of the area populated by the people you research.
4. Create a triple triarama to represent the world as a specific group of native people may have seen it. Combine your research, ideas from the visual images, and your imagination to plan three scenes.
5. To make each scene, measure with a ruler, and then use Crayola® Scissors to cut large white paper into a square. Fold the square diagonally in both directions, from corner to corner, and crease, creating an X in the center. Cut along a fold line from one corner to the center, making two triangle flaps.
6. Design one triangular flap to look like the ground. Leave the other flap blank. The two upper triangles (the connected ones) are the background. Use Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils to sketch your scene. Use Crayola Markers to color your design. Think ahead about how the folded triangle meets the other side to make sure the ground scene matches the sides. Use Crayola School Glue to secure the blank flap under the ground flap. Air-dry the glue.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 twice more to create two more scenes. Glue the scenes back to back. Air-dry the construction.
8. Create several 3-D elements to add to your scenes using Crayola Model Magic. Glue boats, homes, figures, and natural elements to your scenes. Air-dry your scene before exhibiting it. Explain your selected culture to others in your class.
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.
Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—
- Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
- Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
- Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
- The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
- Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
- Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
- Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.
Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.
- Create two pieces of writing from two different perspectives. First imagine you are a native person living in the environment in your scene. Write a description of how you see your world. Include facts from your research. Next be a trader who has just come to the same location for the first time. How is the location and native culture viewed through the eyes of an outsider? Do additional research as needed to find out when traders may have first arrived in the area and what their world views may have been. Glue your writing to the back of each scene.
- Design triple triaramas for other topics or plays that are in three acts, for example.
- Assessment: Use student artwork and writing to assess the accuracy of students’ understanding of native cultures. Use writing to assess individual's skill development and plan for future learning experiences. Look for cooperative behaviors as students research, create, and present their displays.
Castle in the Sun
Spring Springs
Geometric City
