Project Grant - Round 3
ACHF Cultural Heritage
1. Students will understand that Native peoples are still living. 2. Students will understand that Native peoples were here long before European settlers. 3. Students will understand that the environment is central to Native culture and thus, to their art.1. Students will be able to name Native people that they have met and tell others about them. (Student presentations to Parent-Teacher Association and media interviews) 2. Students will use descriptive review to make meaning of Native artworks, both historical and present day, and make speculations about the artist's intentions based on new learning. (Videotapes of descriptive review sessions with and without Native artists) 3. Students will be able to identify tribal patterns based on designs. (Differentiate Dakota, Lakota, Ojibwe beading designs) 4. Student attitude about the contributions of Native peoples will change (pre-post assessment that will be developed) 5. Student artist statement for the art they create will make reference to Native art and show relevance to their own lives. (Artist statements on display with their artwork)
The grant provided an opportunity for both students and teachers to increase their knowledge of Ojibway and Dakota tribes, their cultures and traditions. The staff development piece was received with great enthusiasm. Since all grade levels need to incorporate Minnesota American Indian content as part of their standards, teachers were very interested in getting information and finding resources to support their teaching. The presenter explained how the Perpich library system works. Through our media center, we now have a way to return books without a fee. Teachers were excited about this. Students gained a new appreciation and understanding of native cultures and peoples of Minnesota, by connecting with 3 Native visiting artists, learning the context of Native artworks, and by trying new art techniques. Students learned about the Dakota and Ojibwe traditions of beading, pottery, and star knowledge, and got to make a functional piece of pottery, star painting, and beaded band with traditional techniques. A written post evaluation was used to determine the students’ level of understanding of Native people, and a wrap-up session with Darlene St Clair, American Indian Studies professor at Saint Cloud State University, elicited many reflective responses from the students on what they had learned. The students were very excited about each of the Native Artist Visits. Students used a Descriptive Review Protocol to explore Native artwork. They became quite good at this process. It was especially rewarding for them to have the artist right there to confirm (or not) their thoughts. Students shared their knowledge one evening at a community showcase where their artwork was on display along with a videotape of the students working with the artists. Students were on hand to answer questions from the public. Increased interest and appreciation for Minnesota's indigenous people was noted in student responses to additional learning opportunities outside of the project, such as the invitation to Saint Cloud State University's spring Pow-wow.
Other, local or private