African rock art is a way for artists in southern Africa to show dreams and ideas about how the world works. The art is also for people to remember events for themselves, the ancestors and the gods. Paint pictures on flat, medium-sized Hamsa rocks with acrylic paints or on paper.
The Hamsa is a Middle Eastern symbol for both Jews and Muslims to protect a house against the evil eye. The symbol is an upside down hand with two thumbs and a blue eye in the middle of the hand. Ask children to trace everything but their pinky fingers on colored construction paper. Have them place their other hand over the top of the first picture and
outline the thumbprint where the pinky outline should be. Cut out the handprints. Cut eye shapes from white construction paper and draw a pupil in the center. Glue the eyes in the centers of the hands.
Farmers in the northern region of Japan carve Kokeshi dolls for their daughters. The farmers make the dolls from two cylindrical pieces of wood. The dolls have simple painted lines for the face, and the doll body traditionally has a floral design that the farmer paints in red, black or yellow. Provide the children with pictures of kimonos but encourage your children to use their imaginations with the design and colors. Ask your students to draw the doll on tag board and then cut the doll shapes. The children will draw patterns on watercolor markers on coffee filters and fold these. Spray the filters with water and let dry overnight. Ask children to glue the dresses on the dolls.
Koru is the name that the Maoris give to the unfurling fern frond. This symbol is for new life, growth, strength and peace. Ask children to draw fern leaves with two lines close together with space between the lines.The children will use crayons, pastels or markers to color in the spaces between the lines.
Eastern woodland American Indians made pottery. Use self-drying clay to make these creations. Place butcher paper on the table to protect the table from dirt. Ask children to take small pieces of damp clay and shape these into balls. Hold the ball in the palm of one hand and press the thumb of the other hand to make indentations in the ball. Turn the ball
of clay and press down the clay to within a half-inch of the bottom. Pinch the sides of the clay until it is a pot shape. Have children dip their fingers in water to keep the clay damp. Use sticks to carve designs in the clay. Let dry for several days.