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Folk Art Miniatures

Folk art refers to visual art created by self-taught artists. Students will learn about this field and create miniature folk art pieces.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Craft Materials
  • Heavy Paper
  • Recycled Cardboard
  • Wire

Steps

  • Step 1

    In its broadest sense, folk encompasses various forms of visual art created by self-taught artists, usually by hand. It often reflects the cultural and social experiences of a people and/or region and serves as a way to express community traditions and identity. Its techniques are often passed down through generations. Have students explore the concept of folk art and some of its notable creators, including Grandma Moses (known for her paintings of rural life in America), Clementine Hunter (a "memory painter" who documented Black southern life in the Cane River Valley of Louisiana), and Norval Morrisseau (an Indigenous Canadian from the Anishinaabek First Nation who created works depicting ancient legends and images that came to him in visions and dreams).

  • Step 2

    Folk art is often created out of found items or locally sourced materials. It also features images that have special meaning and significance to the artist or region. Have students create a miniature folk art using a piece of recycled cardboard or any other small flat surface. Encourage them to choose a theme or symbol that is important to them, their community, or their cultural heritage. Have them illustrate the image using colored pencils. They might wish to add other objects such as craft items, tissue paper, pieces of aluminum foil, or anything else they could glue onto their art.

  • Step 3

    When the piece is done, ask students to punch holes in the top corners and thread a piece of wire through them. Ask them to write a brief statement describing the image and its significance, then hang the miniatures and their descriptions on a folk art bulletin board.

Standards

ARTS: Analyze how the arts reflect changing times, traditions, resources, and cultural uses.

ARTS: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding.

Adaptations

Folk dances are dances that reflect the life of the people of a certain region. (Ritual dances, which are part of religious or ceremonial practices, are not considered folk dances.) Have students explore some folk dance styles and watch video clips of them. Suggestions include hula (Hawaii), haka (New Zealand), cumbia (Latin America), and others.

Folk music holds significance as a vital medium for storytelling, cultural preservation, and social commentary. Have students investigate and listen to some notable examples such as "This Land Is Your Land," an anthem of American equality and inclusivity written by Woody Guthrie in 1940; "If I Had a Hammer," written as a protest song by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays that later became associated with the civil rights movement; and "La Bamba," a Mexican folk song covered by many artists (most notably by Ritchie Valens) that likely originated in the 17th century during a slave uprising known as the Bambarria.