Positive Affirmation Boxes to Support Students' Self-Esteem
My students need supplies to make positive affirmation boxes. Using a Mexican-Indian beadwork technique and West African adinkra symbols, 30 5th grade students will need wood boxes, beads, wax, needles, and acrylic paint.
This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
My Students
Our urban public school serves approximately 700 students in Pre-K through 5th grade. Our school includes Montessori, general, and special education programs. One of the greatest characteristics of our school is the diversity of its student body, both ethnically and socioeconomically.
Art is a vehicle that can influence an increase in students' learning outcomes.
My objective is to provide students with rich cross-curricular and multicultural learning experiences that will foster within students-- a deep appreciation for the value of learning.
My Project
The majority of my students are African-American or Mexican-American. Through this project, my students will learn about art techniques and art symbols native to their ethnic heritage.
During this lesson, students will learn about the power of positive thinking and create a series of positive affirmation cards to store in decorative keepsake boxes.
Students will learn about and apply a beadwork technique native to the Huichols, a Mexican-Indian tribe. Students will also learn about ancient adinkra symbols of strength, native to West Africa (Ghana). Students will select one of the adinkra symbols to design the lid of their box, applying the Mexican-Indian beadwork technique. Prior to painting their boxes, students will research and consider a series of patterns reflected in West African mud cloth (Mali).
The intent of this lesson is twofold. First, to educate my students about the valuable contributions that Africans and Mexicans have made to the world of art and craft. Second, to foster among my students an understanding that what they think about-- is what they are going to create in their lives. Positive thinking has power. To think positive, will attract positive outcomes.
Over the course of the first quarter of the 2018-2019 academic year, I will work with 30 students involved in an art club to create the positive affirmation boxes.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Wieler and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.