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Lesson Plans
4th Grade Lesson Plans

Lesson Plan

Recognize Indigenous People’s Day with Navajo Rug Design

Explore the beauty of Navajo rug weaving with this lesson that integrates indigenous culture, math and art. Students will learn and practice symmetry and create a design in the tradition of the Navajo rug pattern called “Two Grey Hills”.
Grade:
Fourth Grade
View aligned standards
4.G.A.3

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to list 3 characteristics of Navajo rugs.
  • Students will create a Navajo rug pattern using the Two Grey Hills design.
  • Students will create a Navajo rug pattern that incorporates symmetry.

Introduction

(10 minutes)

  • Explain that students will be honoring Indigenous People’s Day by studying the beautiful artistry of the Navajo people and creating a rug pattern of their own

  • Ask the class: What is a pattern? Where do you see patterns in this classroom? Where do you see patterns in the world?

  • Ask the class: What does it mean if a pattern has symmetry? Do you see examples of symmetry in this room? Where do you see symmetry in the world? Explain that an image has symmetry when you can draw one or more lines through the center of it and if you fold it on the line the two sides are a mirror image of each other.

  • Explain that since you are studying Navajo art, it’s important to consider where these people live. Ask students: Does anyone know, in what area of the United States do most Navajo people live? Take out a US map and explain that they live in what is called the Four Corners area of the US (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado).