Kachina Dolls & Rain Sticks.

Kachina dolls, from the Hopi Tribe in Arizona, are also known as "spirit dolls" and are not toys, but given as gifts.  Each Kachina doll has the body of a human, but the head of an animal that symbolized a trait.  For example, if I wanted to wish strength to someone, I might give them a Kachina Doll with the head of a bear, symbolizing strength.  Each 4th and 5th grader was given the opportunity to create their own Kachina doll.  They could choose any animal they wanted and create their own meaning for the animal they chose.  To create these dolls, the students were presented with a variety of materials, and got to choose what they would use and how they would use it.  I tried not to give very much direction in how to make their dolls -- we talked about exercising the right side of our brain (the creative side) and coming up with creative solutions to what they wanted their doll to look like.  Here are some pictures of the Kachinas that were created!

In the background you may have noticed the rain sticks, made by 3rd grade!  Although rain sticks originated in South & Central America, their use spread throughout tribes across the continents, and they were also used by the Navajo tribe in North America!  The 3rd graders loved making these -- I will definitely have to think about making different instruments in the future-- maybe a little art/music collaboration?? How cool!