Arts Around the World
Arts Around the World
By: Katja Roberts - This Portfolio is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been
accepted for inclusion in Honors Expanded Learning Clubs by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Arts Around the World Club - Curriculum Spring 2019
Grade Level: Kindergarten through second grade
Ideal Number of Attendees: 7-15 students
Goal of Club: Increase the cultural and global awareness of students
Resources: Various Pinterest ideas
Content Areas: Social Studies and Arts
Final Products: Weekly crafts that are related to the country being studied
Introduction to Club: This Arts Around the World club introduces students to other countries and cultures through engaging crafts
Length of Club: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Tips and Tricks: Have extra activities (such as coloring pages or worksheets) available for
children who finish at a faster pace, and watch for students who are becoming distracted.
Weekly Lesson Plans
Week 1: Flags
1. Introduction to Club
- Set up club expectations and introduction
2. Craft: Make your own flag!
Background:
- Define what a flag is
- What does the American flag look like?
- How do some other flags look?
- Brief overview on the significance of the colors on a flag
Instructions:
- If you had your own country, how would you design your flag? It can represent your favorite things. . .
Materials:
- Colored paper (as many different colors as possible)
- Drawing materials (pencils, markers/crayons/colored pencils)
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
3. Reflection
What worked:
- The students really enjoyed the activity and made some amazing flags.
What didn’t:
- Some students finished the activity much faster than others, and then started to disengage and act out.
Week 2: France
1. Introduction:
How does the flag look, what is the capital, language spoken, and other fun facts
- Ask the kids if they already know something about the country
2. Craft: Water lily paper craft
https://www.schooltimesnippets.com/2016/07/monet-art-for-kids-water-lillies.html
Background:
- Who was Claude Monet?
- How did his paintings look?
Instructions:
- Kids make their own version of Claude Monet’s water lily paintings
- 1. Use a piece of colored paper as a base
- 2. Tear pieces of paper in different colors into strips and glue them onto the base
- 3. Tear green pieces of paper to make lily pads, and also glue them down
- 4. Glue cupcake lines on the lily pads
- 5. Glue a piece of paper into the lily pads
Materials:
- Colored construction paper (white, pink, green, blue, light blue, and purple)
- Glue sticks
- Cupcake liners (white or light pink)
3. Bonus Activity
- a. If kids finish early, let them dance to French folk music
- b. French coloring pages
4. Reflection
What worked:
- The children enjoyed the activity
What didn’t:
- Some students had a hard time with following directions
Week 3: Greece
1. Introduction
How does the flag look, what is the capital, language spoken, and other fun facts
- Ask the kids if they already know something about the country
2. Craft: Ancient Greek Pottery
Background:
- Quick facts about ancient Greek culture
- Importance of pottery
- Show them examples
- What did the decorations mean?
Instructions:
- Kids will replicate ancient Greek pottery by drawing their own myth on terracotta pots
Materials:
- Small terracotta pots
- Black markers/paint
- Printed examples of Greek patterns
3. Extra Activity:
- Greek coloring pages
4. Reflection:
What worked:
- When all of the students were finished, they competed in “Olympic Events”
What didn’t:
- Some students had a difficult time being respectful and following
directions
Week 4: Russia
1. Introduction:
How does the flag look, what is the capital, language spoken, and other fun facts
Ask the kids if they already know something about the country
2. Craft: Matryoshka Dolls:
https://www.education.com/activity/article/russian-nesting-dolls/
Background:
- What are matryoshka dolls
- What do they look like
- Significance
Instructions:
- The kids will use markers/pencils to draw the outline of their design on each doll
- They will then use other supplies to add decorations and color
Materials:
- 3-4 cups of different sizes (preferably white or without a pattern)
- The cups must be able to stack on top of each other
- Drawing supplies (pencils, markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils)
- If the cups are plastic or styrofoam, then the markers need to be permanent
- Possibly stickers to add on to the cups
3. Reflection:
What worked:
- The students enjoyed the activity
What didn’t:
- Washable markers do not draw well on styrofoam and paper cups, and tend to smear easily
Week 5: Ireland
1. Introduction:
How does the flag look, what is the capital, language spoken, and other fun facts
- Ask the kids if they already know something about the country
2. Craft: Bodhran Drum:
a. Background: https://www.maestroclassics.com/-bodhraacuten-frame-drum.html
b. Instructions:
- 1. Trace the inside of the hoop on a sheet of paper
- 2. Draw a (Celtic) design inside the traced circle on the paper
- 3. Take the design and fit it into the hoop, face down
- 4. Carefully work the inner part of the hoop into the frame with the design in between
- 5. Once the paper is in place, carefully tighten the hoop
- 6. Make the tipper for the drum by putting and eraser on both sides of a pencil, and then wrapping pipe cleaner around the ends
Materials:
- Embroidery hoops (preferably 4 or 6 inches)
- Pencils
- Pipe cleaners (2 per student)
- Plain white paper
- Arrowhead erasers
3. Reflection:
What worked:
- The students really enjoyed the activity
What didn’t:
- The students needed adult help in order to put the drum together
Week 6: Czech Republic
1. Introduction:
- Where is the country, what is the language spoken, etc
- Say that I speak Czech and ask if anyone else knows a different language
2. Craft: Easter Egg Decorating:
Background:
Instructions:
- 1. Take an egg, and start drawing a design!
Materials:
- Eggshells, or a substitute for an egg
- Colored markers
3. Extra Activity:
- Play Czech children’s cartoons, such as Pat and Mat or Bob a Bobek
4. Reflection:
What worked:
- The students had fun and were engaged.
What didn’t:
- Rather than drawing a pattern or design on their eggs, the students opted to
make their eggs a solid color.
Week 7: China
1. Introduction
- Where is the country, what is the language spoken, etc
2. Craft: Paper Plate Hand Fans
Background:
https://thepinterestedparent.com/2017/01/paper-plate-hand-fans/
Instructions:
- 1. Take the paper plate, and draw a small half-circle on the bottom using a marker
- 2. Using the paint, color/design the plate, and wait for it to dry
- 3. Once the paint is dry, add designs using stickers and marker\
- 4. After the design is complete, glue the craft sticks to the bottom to make handles
Materials:
- White paper plates (cut in half)
- Jumbo craft sticks (2 per person)
- Paint in red and black (preferably washable)
- Liquid glue
- Stickers (preferably gold)
- Black markers
- Painting supplies
3. Reflection:
What worked:
- The students enjoyed painting and making a craft that they could “use”
What didn’t:
- While waiting for the paint to dry, a lot of students disengaged. Also,
some of the “fans” were not completely dry at the end of club
Week 8: Australia
1. Introduction
- Where is the country, what language is spoken, etc
2. Craft: Newspaper koala:
https://iheartcraftythings.com/newspaper-koala-craft.html
Instructions:
- 1. Cut a big circle and 2 little circles out of newspaper
- 2. Glue them onto the colored paper, so that the big circle is the head, and the little ones are ears
- 3. Cut an oval out of the black paper (this will be the nose)
- 4. Glue the nose and googly eyes onto the koala
Materials:
- Newspaper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Construction paper
- Googly eyes
Week 9: Mexico
1. Introduction
- Where is the country, what is the language spoken, etc
2. Craft: Ojos de dios
https://www.bebravekeepgoing.com/2009/07/ojo-de-dios-aka-gods-eyes-craft.html?m=1
Instructions:
- Take the 2 craft sticks and glue them in an “X” shape
- Cut some yarn in different colors, and tie them together
- Start wrapping it around the sticks
- Once done, tie the yarn
Materials:
- Yarn (in multiple colors)
- Small craft sticks (2 per student)
- Scissors iv. Glue
3. Reflection
What worked:
- The students enjoyed the craft, and the activity lasted the entire club
What didn’t:
- The students needed a lot of help setting up the craft, so it would have
been useful to have another adult help out.
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Part of the Higher Education Commons
This Portfolio is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been
accepted for inclusion in Honors Expanded Learning Clubs by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Roberts, Katja, "Arts Around the World" (2019). Honors Expanded Learning Clubs. 22.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/honorshelc/22