1 class periods of 45 minutes each
Small Groups
Thinking & Reasoning
The student will produce a split twig figurine from a willow branch and learn that natural resources are vital to producing art work.
Branches of willow or similar material, 1/4" in diameter and approximately 12" long. Soak the branches in water. Knife, used to split the willow.
The teacher will read the book titled A Sketch of Grand Canyon Prehistory; and teach the students that split twig figures were made by the Hisatsinom - Basketmakers for special offerings of abundance for animal life. The teacher will make a connection to the Basketmakers in Utah and Arizona; the term basketmakers are ancestors of the Pueblo tribes, such as the Hopi.
The student will learn to utilize a diagram that shows the steps how to make a split twig figurine. See page 4; A Sketch of Grand Canyon Prehistory. The student will comprehend the terms such as Basketmakers, Hisatsinom and the Anasazi are one in the same. The student will learn to utilize natural resources in his/her own area.
The student will learn to read a diagram to produce a split twig figurine utilizing a willow branch. The willow branch being a natural resource in his/her own environment or any other similar material will help the student experiment with what natural resources are available. The student will produce a split twig figurine to represent an animal that may be abundant in the area.
Students with artistic talent and interests may produce and experiment with different natural materials - cottonwood branches, elm branches or other types of branches. Also, to bend and shape a branch; they can experiment with different lengths and diameters of branches. The students may visualize and produce many types of figurines to represent animals. The student can draw a diagram of how they bend and shaped their own work of art. Also, they can interpret the meaning of each split-twig figurine by writing a short description for display.
The students will display their works of art during school family night to show the 3-D split twig figure of the animal. A short description in writing will be displayed and/or a diagram of how they bend/shaped the branch may accompany the display.
Jones, Anne Trinkler & Euler, Robert C., A Sketch of Grand Canyon Prehistory 1990
Hughs, J. Donald In The House of Stone and Light; A Human History of the Grand Canyon 1978