Plants, Roots, Berries, and Barks Used for Natural Dyes in Ojibwe Designs

Grade Level:

Subject Areas:

• Culture
• Science
• Art

Objectives:

• The students will identify and gather three different plants, roots, berries, and barks used to make natural dyes for porcupine quills.
• Students will demonstrate the techniques used in preparing and dying porcupine quills.
• Students will research other uses for plants, berries, roots, and barks.
• Students will present their findings on natural colors to the class.

Technology Equipment and Skills Needed:

• Visual discrimination
• Computer, digital camera, lab equipment and other media of their choice (such as art media)
• Oral speaking skills

Lesson Overview:

The students will document and gather different types of plants, berries, roots, and barks used in natural dyes. Each student will experiment with all of the items they gathered to create as many colors possible. The students will apply this information to prepare and dye quills used in different forms of Indigenous art work. The students will identify how the plants, berries, roots, and barks are used for other purposes.

Cultural Content:

Students will research the cultural content by talking to Elders in the community, searching the Internet, and talking to other communities via e-mail about the different uses of native plants, berries, roots, and barks.

Other Background Information for Teacher:

Tobacco is placed in the woods as an offering before anything is gathered as a thank you to the great spirit.

Assessment:

• Shows Improvement
• Daily Involvement
• Daily Journaling
• Final Product
• Student Generated Rubric