Navajo Weaving

Hello!

Today sadly was my last day. It wasn't until the end of class that it hit me. I had grown to love the children and I am sad to have to leave them as were they.

Since it was the last day, we tried to go back to what we learned at the beginning and add more to their learning with a simple project.

Here is the link to my powerpoint:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jJOP-VZZguKvwJR5v6X12nHTjyYwPKqyh4MGnowcCBk/edit?usp=sharing

We talked about Navajo Native American basket and rug weavings. We talked about color and geometric shapes, radial design, and symmetrical design. We watched a video about how Navajo's weave their rugs starting from the beginning of raising sheep. After raising sheep, they took their wool and washed it. Next they brushed the wool out with special brushes. Next they take the wool and spin it on a spool. Next they dye it with natural dyes found in the wild. After they create their loom and start weaving.

The students thought this was super interesting. I explained that it sometimes is important to start at a easier and similar beginning, and progress over time to harder tasks. This is the case with rug weaving. So we did some weaving of our own but in a simpler way.

We weaved yarn on cups!

To prepare: Cut clear solo cups horizonally an odd number of times for each child. Pre cut and make balls of yarn colors for students to choose from. It lessens the time needed to get the materials and more time to make the cups.

It is super easy to figure out and the children really enjoyed it. It was hard at first for many but after going around and reminding them to keep on pushing down the string both on the inside and outside they were able to make their cups quite fast! Some were slower but that is totally fine.

We also talked about color choices and design choices that they would make while weaving their cups. Some used multiple colors, some only 2 colors and they all chose individually how much color they wanted to include. They all looked pretty cool.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to see the finished product. They had to finish after I left.