Thirteen+Moons

= = October 4 and 8 is **//Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back//** time. Students will hear these poems about creation and view sample student projects from the past. Then, they will choose a poem to illustrate for themselves. This project is due Monday, October 8th Native American Day.

=ACTIVITY 1: The Parfleche: A High Desert Container= []

Objectives:

 * To recognize that utilitarian objects can be works of art as well.
 * How did people store things in the past?
 * Make a parfleche.

Estimated Time Needed for Activity:
One 45--60 minute session

Notes:
A parfleche (meaning rawhide) was a folded container, similar to a portfolio, widely used by plains and desert dwelling Native Americans. Made small enough for medicines or large enough to store robes, these envelopes were made from rawhide and decorated, usually with geometric designs. They were tied with thongs to keep them closed and were easy to stack, store and transport.

Addressing Cultural Diversity in the Learning Environment:
Encourage the younger students to come up with a list of containers used in other cultures. For example, the bentwood box was used by the Northwest Coast Indians because rawhide rotted quite rapidly due to the climate. What types of containers have been used in the past in Japan? In South America, in India or in Africa? How have they been decorated? Are any of these still used today?

Materials Needed for this Activity:

 * Brown grocery bag or kraft paper
 * Lengths of yarn or shoe laces or even leather laces
 * Pencil
 * 18 inch ruler or a straight edge
 * Scissors
 * Waterproof black pens (such as Uniball)
 * Markers, or watercolor paints or colored pencils
 * Hole puncher

Additional Resources:

 * www.pam.org
 * www.nga.gov
 * www.dickblick.com/multicultural/parfleche
 * Invite an archeologist to speak about artifacts.
 * Encyclopedia of Native American Bows, Arrows and Quivers by Steve Allely 623.441 A23e ISBN: 1558219927
 * The Traditional Bowyers Bibleby Steve Allely 688.7932 T763
 * The Heard Museum
 * Art, craft and reference books on Native American designs

Procedure:

 * 1) View the video of Steve Allely, especially noting his attention to Native American artifacts.[]
 * 2) Cut the brown paper into a rectangle about 10 x 16 inches (this could be done beforehand by a much--valued parent volunteer).
 * 3) With pencil and straight edge, divide the rectangle down the middle each way so there are 4 smaller rectangles that are 5x8 inches.
 * 4) Fold each long edge into the center to meet at the line. Crease well.
 * 5) Open out and then fold each short edge into the center but overlap the line about an inch or so. Crease the folds well.
 * 6) The folded parfleche should resemble an envelope about 5x7 inches.
 * 7) Trim off corners to avoid bunching.
 * 8) Punch two holes in each short end at least 1/2 inch in from edge, ensuring that the respective opposite holes align fairly well.
 * 9) Decorate the outside, using traditional geometric designs or inventing another, using the pen, markers or paints.
 * 10) Thread the holes with yarn or laces and tie closed.

Assessment

 * Use the Creation Scoring Guide to assess this activity.

Extensions and Adaptations

 * The Portland Art Museum has an exhibit of Native American artifacts, including parfleches. Other museums and galleries may have examples as well.
 * Older students might want to try making a more realistic parfleche, using rawhide or leather in place of paper. A leather craft store or Oregon Leather could provide the raw material.