Collaborative Native American Project Kindergarten

The Kindergarten classes that came to Art the week of Thanksgiving had the chance to work in a collaborative group to create a Native American Village. They were divided into groups by drawing popsicle sticks and were given a large sheet of brown kraft paper, oil pastel buckets and pictograph sheets of Native American symbols.
We discussed what tepees were made from, and students felt of a real tanned animal hide which they agreed was very soft and would make nice clothing or blankets.

 
 

We talked about what would be needed around the village in order to survive in the wilderness. Suggestions were: animals, berry bushes, river, fish, a campfire and other items.
Kinders decorated the large ceremonial tepee in the middle first, which my intern and I had drawn before passing out the paper. After the large tepee was finished, students were encouraged to draw their own tepee in the village and then some of the things we had talked about.

The kids really liked working together in the groups and did a great job of making their villages!