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The Art of Surfing

Surfing traces its roots to ancient Polynesian culture. Students will explore this aquatic activity and create artwork that depicts the sport in a fanciful way.

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.

  • Heavy Paper
  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students learn about the history of surfing, both in Polynesia where the earliest known records of wave riding were recorded around 2,000 years ago, and in Africa in the 1640s in what is now Ghana. Ask them to explore its spiritual and cultural significance. Have them also research notable surfers such as Maya Gabeira who holds the record for biggest wave ever surfed by a woman and Sharon Schaffer, the first Black professional woman surfer.

  • Step 2

    Ask students to create surfing-inspired artwork. They can create a background that suggests waves and the movement of water. They can then cut surfing figures out of heavy paper, illustrate them, and glue them onto the decorated background.

  • Step 3

    Display the artwork around the classroom as an homage to the history and artistry of surfing.

Standards

SS: Culture: Through experience, observation, and reflection, identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place. 

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Use maps, globes, and other geographic tools. Demonstrate understanding of the use and misuse of the environment and the relationship between human populations and the physical world. 

Adaptations

Have students learn about Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968) who won Olympic medals in swimming in 1912, 1920, and 1924. He was one of the first surfing icons to popularize the sport. Ask them to learn about his life, including how he rescued eight men from a capsized fishing vessel in dangerous waters by surfing back and forth to bring them to safety.

Surfing became part of the Summer Olympics in 2020. Have students investigate some of the events and winners of the 2020 and 2024 summer games