Women's History
Scrolls
How
it works:
In this program, each student creates a scroll depicting
the life and/or achievements of a woman. The woman can be famous,
historical, contemporary, legendary, fictional, or someone the student
knows and admires. In preparation for their work, students use the
Internet to find out about the lives of significant women. Suggested sites
include Women in History: http://bubl.ac.uk/link/w/womeninhistory.htm
and National Women's History Project: www.nwhp.org/
As they research or interview a women, students take note of
the subject's name, date and place of birth, childhood and young adulthood
experiences that shaped her future, role models, education, and
accomplishments and/or contributions to society. Using the images and
information found on the Internet, the students use pencils and paper to
pre-plan their scrolls in a horizontal or vertical format. They use
tempera paint and brushes on rice paper to create the final drawing. The
completed drawings are made into scrolls by attaching wooden dowels
on each end using white glue. A ribbon is used to hang and/or close the
scroll.
Standards addressed:
Students
understand and apply media, techniques, and processes related to the
visual arts and communicating various ideas. They understand the visual
arts in relation to history and cultures. They also use computer databases
to locate sources for research topics.
Materials
used:
The students do their research on a networked Macintosh
lab with Internet access. To create the scrolls they use rice paper,
pencils, Chinese style brushes, tempera paint, white glue, wood dowels,
and ribbon.
The
students:
The original participants were heterogeneously grouped
eighth grade students at the Institute for Collaborative Education, a
small New York City public school. The writing, artistic, and technical
skills of the students varied.
.
Overall
value:
Women's History Scrolls engages the students'
artistic, research, and writing skills as they learn about the lives of
women they consider to be significant. This is a project that is perfect
for Women's History Month or any time of the year.
Tips:
Let the students choose their own role
model or significant woman for this project. That significant woman can be
a family member, star, historical figure, or even a fictional woman they
read about and admired.
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About the teacher:
Meryl Meisler, digital
art teacher at the Institute for Collaborative Education, has taught art
in the New York City public schools since 1979. A recipient of a Disney
American Teacher award as well as numerous Impact II grants and other
awards, she serves on the Teachers Network Board of
Advisors.
E-mail:
meryl@teachersnetwork.org
Subject
Areas:
Art
Language
Arts
Technology
Grade
Levels:
7-8
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