2. African Designs
Sessions |
Two or three
|
|
Focus |
Design their own African
pattern
To investigate colour, shape and texture in textile material and create interesting surface textures. Children will investigate patterns from different times in Africa. |
|
Material |
White Fabric
Thin paper card for design Permanent black markers, thin and thick Pencil colours Oil pastels Scissors and glue Spray for fabrics |
|
Resources |
Books: "African Designs", By Rebecca Jewell, British Museum Pattern Books |
|
Talk about |
Compare the shapes and patterns in designs from different African times and Culture. Notice when patterns are made of simple shapes and when they are based on animals, plants, forms or other objects. Remind the children that pattern is made when a shape is repeated many times. Show a map of the world and ask the children to situate Africa, His
shape, extension. What do they know about Africa?. Warm colours because they can be associated wit the colours of Africa. Experiment with oil pastels, how can be they blended, using 2 warm colours blend them overlapping, they are soft, smooth and easily mixed. |
|
Sketchbook |
To write about the final
work. The process followed, the materials needed.
|
|
|
1 - Give the students the paper card, 40 cm · 60 cm folded like a booklet, the African map and information about Africa. Glue both papers in the card. Spend some time reading and answering the questions. Every time they read or listen about a country they have to find it in the map and colour it. 2 - Give the students the pack of Handout of African Designs and with a black marker, children have to experiment drawings. Use another folded part of the card paper. Give them about 15 minutes. 3 - In a double paper card page 40 cm · 40 cm, they
have to make a nice and big design. They have to think the hole shape
and build a composition. Try not to design too small. They don't need to
copy but be inspired. Afterwards revise what they have done, if they
have been creative, if they have used lots of details. 4 - Then, they are given a box of oil pastels to experiment blending. Remind them to use warm colours, red and orange, red and yellow...Paint solid with a colour and overlap the other. Once students have practise in paper they colour in a small piece of white fabric with one of the previous designs. 5 - They use now the 40·40 cm piece of fabric and put on top of their design. With a black oil pastel trace carefully part of the design . Use the blending technique. It is important to to leave some areas left. For small details they use permanent marker. Finally, use a fabric spray for the designs. You will need to choose the appropriate colour for them. |
|
Developing the idea |
|
|
Vocabulary and language |
Fabric
Pattern Warm colours |
Composition: arrangement of shapes, colours lines. |
Assessment |
- Encourage students to use the vocabulary they learn. - Which shapes are symmetrical? - Which pattern are repeated? - Which patterns use reflection? Ask the children how the work can be displayed. |