Lesson #2: Aboriginal Dot Paintings


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For this lesson students will be creating dot art based on the Australian Aboriginal tradition of creating paintings using many dots. This lesson would be appropriate for grade 4.


Materials: 


  • Paint (primary colours and black and white)
  • Heavy paper (which can be painted on)
  • Q-tips
  • Plates or paper to mix paint on.
  • Austraillian Aboriginal art (google "Australian Aborigines") see Australian Aboriginal art bellow.

Image source: http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/SSPOD/SuperStock_1474-227.jpg



Directions:
Step 1: Give class background information about Australian Dot Paintings. Educate that Aboriginals used dot painting to tell a story or to recording ritual practices. Artists would create an image in dots to tell a story. They would then surround the image in other dots to 'hide' the image so only those who were 'in the know' could understand the story hidden in the painting. Instruct students to think of a story they would like to tell through a pictures. 


Step 2: Distribute a variety of Aboriginal dot paintings for students to study. Tell students to think about warm and cool colours, or complimentary colours. Instruct students to decide what sort of colours they would like to use in their painting. Remove the paintings before students start on their own paintings.


Step 3: Allow students to start on their dot paintings. Tell students you want to be able to see at least  six different colours incorporated in their dot paintings. Remind students to think about their reason for choosing the different types of colours. Also remind students their picture should be hidden or camouflaged among other dots.


Step 4: After students finish their paintings have then do a reflection on their work explaining what story their painting was created to tell and why they chose the colours that they chose.

Modifications/Adaptations
The lesson above without any modifications is appropriate for a grade four class. If I wanted to modify this lesson for younger students I would show them the other dot paintings and allow them to create a dot painting of whatever subject they like and just do a small reflection explaining what their painting is of. I also would not require them to hide their picture among other dots. 

If this lesson was for older students I would incorporate a research component requiring students to research an Aboriginal story and I would require them to incorporate that story into their painting and I would include a writing component where students would write a research paper communicating what they learned through their research.




This lesson plan has been adapted from the website: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/artsslamusicmdaboriginaldotpaintingk12-htm/

1 comment:

  1. This art is really very famous these days and I get best chance to know full information about Aboriginal Art. I am really thankful to you for having best collections of this art!!

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