Back to:Elementary Lesson plans

Huichol Wall Hangings   Mexican Huichol artwork is a technical and creative art piece that is filled with color and linear movement.  Students improve their craftsmanship skills while having the freedom to choose their directional movement, colors, and subject matter. They explore their possibilities of how to do problem solving in the requirements and express individuality through symbolism of objects. It is a motivational project with a high success rate in completing the final project.

Lesson Plan

Grade Level:  3

Title:  Huichol Art Making

Brief History and Background:
Huichol is an ancient culture of Mexico. The Huichol people are very spiritual. They believe in the importance of the natural world. That is, the symbols they use in their livelihood are designed from nature. To celebrate their love and respect of nature, they wear these symbols in jewelry and clothing or displayed as artistic ornaments and wall hangings.  These art pieces are made by means of embroidery, weaving, yarn drawing, and beading. Many of the symbols are animals, the sun or 'sol', and plant life. Combined, the symbols tell a narrative story through imagery.

Goal:
Students will create a Huichol bead and yarn art piece

Objectives:
     Students will:
     •    choose symbols
     •    draw symbols on 1/2 moon shape
     •    choose colors for design
     •    adhere yarn in linear formation to outline shapes of symbols
     •    adhere colored beads or rice to fill in negative shapes
     •    create a Huichol art piece

Resource Materials/Visual Aides:
Visual displays and exemplars
Images

Supplies/Materials:
images of symbols
pencils
rubber erasers
colored beads or rice
colored yarn
1/2 moon shaped cardboard
glue

Teacher Preparation:
Set up exemplars and Power point
Have supplies readily accessible at supply station

Introduction:
Teacher will introduce subject with handouts about Huichol art and culture.  Students will participate in discussion of how symbols and colors are applied in line and pattern. Power Point presentation and exemplars. Students will answer the following questions:

•    What are the symbols?
•    Is there pattern?
•    Is the pattern created through line or shape?
•    How?

Requirements:
Students will select a maximum of 3 symbols to create a design on a half moon shape. They are to use colored yarn to create outline of symbols and fill in space using the element of line with yarn or beads. One symbol must be larger than others for importance.

Directions:
•    Choose Huichol symbols.
•    Lightly sketch in accurate proportions and layout of design.
•    Trace lines with glue and ad here yarn to glue.
•    Fill in negative space with glued lines of yarn or beads.
•    Create a Huichol art piece.

Critique/Evaluation/Assessment:

•    Is there repetition to create pattern?
•    In which manner are they applied, line or color?
•    Written exercise:  
    -What would you use as a symbol to describe yourself?
    -What is most important to you from nature?
    -If you create a Huichol art piece, what narrative story would you tell?
    -What symbols of life and nature would you portray?
    -Which would be the most important symbol in this scene?

Time Budget:
40 mins. twice a week for 2 weeks
5 min. introduction
30 min. work period
5 min. clean up

Vocabulary:
symbols- objects that represent a meaning

Safety Concerns:
N/A

Extensions:
Color a pre-printed Mexican design

Bibliography/References:
National Museum of Mexican Art
Huichol Art. Found in Wikipedia.com
Art Smart, Susan Rodriquez,Pearson Education, 2007

Image