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International Week: Pakistan

5/30/2020

This unit was assigned June 1.

Before we begin: I am learning about Pakistan along with my students. If information seems incorrect, or not quite right, please do not hesitate to contact me to make corrections or provide context!

The green space is Pakistan on the world map

Last week we made art inspired by our community. In this unit we will learn about another culture and make art inspired by another country and its people. Pakistan means “Land of the Pure” in the national language, Urdu. Islamabad is the capital city, surrounded by the Margalla Hills.

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad with the Margalla Hills behind it

The building in the picture above is a mosque, a place of worship for followers of the Muslim religion (Islam). Below is the flag of Pakistan. The green color represents Islam and the white stripe represents other religions. The crescent moon is a symbol of progress and the star represents light.

The Shalwar Kameez is the national dress of Pakistan and is traditionally worn by both men and women. For my students, you will see a lot of your teachers wearing this dress as they teach you this week (I am wearing mine in the read aloud videos for this week). Some of these dresses are works of art with beautiful embroidery and details sewn by hand!

Just like in the United States, Pakistan is full of art history and artists who are living and working today! The painting below was done in the early 1600s and was an illustration in a book. Much of the art of Pakistan was done in mini versions for books with LOTS of tiny detail.

Study of a Nilgai (Blue Bull) by Ustad Mansur

Artist Naiza H. Khan is from Pakistan and she makes art that celebrates the history of her country in a new way! Artists that live in Pakistan today are still inspired by the history of their country but also by their families, homes, surrounding towns, plants, books, movies and animals. Just like you!

Shifting Ground by Naiza H. Khan (2011)

How can you make art inspired by Pakistan?
Pick at least one of the activities below to complete in the next two weeks:

Activities:

Throughout Southeast Asia decorating trucks is a form of art! Some of these trucks sell goods and others are making deliveries across the country! Check out the images of truck art in Southeast Asia: Truck art in South Asia
Then, design your own truck art! Draw a truck (If you need help check out this how to draw: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT7suW5PFNc ) or make a truck out of another material like cut paper or popsicle sticks: Popsicle Stick Farm Trucks - Kid Craft and then paint or draw on your own designs! Keep an eye out for Miss Budd’s demonstration of this project!
To see more designs check out this video here: Pakistani truck Rebuild 2019 | Decorated Truck Video Full | Pakistani truck Art | Pakistani Trucker

Explore the art of henna! Henna (sometimes known as mehndi) is a type of body art common in Pakistan. The leaves of a henna plant are crushes and if you put it on your skin it leaves a temporary stain. For celebrations in Pakistan people often apply henna in beautiful patterns and designs on their hands, arms, and feet! To make your own designs trace each of your hands on a piece of paper and cut them out. Glue the cutouts on a background paper. Decorate the paper hands with all sorts of designs that are important to you! Traditional designs include the sun and moon, leaves, and flowers! You can follow along with my demonstration below and find the link to the project here "Henna Hands:" A Simple Multicultural Craft for Kids
If you have air-dry clay at home you can try to make a hand sculpture with henna designs like you see here: Kids Craft: Mid Century Ceramic Hand Dish

Draw the flag of Pakistan using this YouTube Video: How to draw the Flag of Pakistan (by Art for All)
Follow along with the Animals of Pakistan Draw-Alongs
Listen to Miss Budd read Listen to the Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea. You can find the story on TEAMS or at Read Alouds
Create a hanging moon and star from a paper plate inspired by the Pakistani flag! The example adds words to celebrate Ramadan but you can decorate it however you want! You can find it here at the Pakistan Activities Page or at Ramadan Moon & Star Paper Plate Decor {Tutorial} by A Crafty Arab
Khatam is an eight-pointed star pattern that is found in Islamic culture. You will see this design on tiles, boxes, and more. This craft is inspired by the patterns of khatam. Recycled Khatam Gift Tag {Tutorial} and Kirigami Handcut Khatam {Tutorial} (If you don’t have circle cutters you can trace different-sized lids or plates)
Lanterns are often seen as a symbol of hope during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
- DIY Ramadan Decoration 2020 ( Lantern ) طريقة سهلة لعمل فانوس رمضان من الورق لزينة رمضان
- How To Make Simple Islamic Lanterns
- Easy EID Paper Lantern | EID Lantern Craft Ideas for Kids | Easy & Cute Craft with Paper #eidcrafts (Make sure an adult helps you with using a knife)
- https://youtu.be/Bp0BlFUGglo (These are not specifically from Pakistan but would look nice with Pakistani-inspired designs like paper stars or moons)
The monument Minar-E Pakistan is in Lahore, Pakistan and is a monument to some of the important steps the country took to become what it is today! Draw Minar-E Pakistan using the YouTube Video: How to draw Minar E Pakistan, Lahore (by Art for All)

Mosaics are an important part of art history in Pakistan. Artist Muna Siddiqui lives and works in Pakistan and has made a beautiful mural in the city of Karachi. Check out her artwork here: Muna Siddiqui's beautiful mosaic in Karachi is a call to recover a fading tradition Try to make your own mosaic using materials you might have around the house! Here is one way: Make Fun Childrens Mosaics - DIY Crafts - Guidecentral or here How to Make Paper Mosaics - Friday Fun

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Art in the Community

5/13/2020

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This unit was assigned on May 18, 2020.

A community is a group of people living or working together in the same area. They might go to the same schools, shop in the same stores, and do the same things. They also help each other and solve problems together. Your home is a community. Your town is a community. Your state is a community.

Watch this video to better understand a community: Communities for Kids - Types of Communities

Artists are an important part of a community. Artist Camille Walala is an artist who lives in London, England and creates art in communities all over the world.

Camille Walala

Her artwork helps communities and makes them brighter and more beautiful. For one piece of artwork, she created inflatable playgrounds in London and Hong Kong:

Many of her projects help people who are hungry or don’t have a home. This art project changed a crosswalk into a piece of art!

Better Bankside

Camille also worked with a school to design their playground!

You can learn more about Camille in this video from Tate Kids: How to Be a Street Artist. She also partnered with LEGO to create a cool community house project How We Build A Giant House From LEGO DOTS With Camille Walala .
Art can bring a community together to celebrate their city or town or raise awareness of a problem that needs to change. Right now our communities look different as we are learning and working from home. Our community is more important than ever as essential workers are working hard to keep us safe and healthy.
How can you make art to celebrate your community?
Pick at least one of the activities below to complete in the next two weeks:

Activities:

Explore photography by creating a collage! Look for letters around you in your community or home. These could be letters on signs or books or something that happens to look like that letter. You could even arrange objects to look like letters! Pick a word that is important to you (maybe “home” or “love” or your name!) and spell it out with photos! If you don’t have a camera you can draw the objects!

There are some buildings that are important to your community. These could be fire houses, churches, schools, historic buildings, farms, parks, restaurants, or even your house! Draw a building in your community. Think about colors, shapes, and the landscape around the building. You can work from a picture or ask your family to take a drive and you can all draw outside together!
Pets are a part of your home community. PAWS CT Cat Shelter is a part of the community of our town! Pick one of the cats in need of a home at PAWS Cat Shelter and create a pet portrait of the cat. You can find the cats and more information here: https://www.rachaelbudd.com/pet-portrait-project.html Send a good quality picture (make sure you have good light and take a picture directly over the art) of the artwork to Miss Budd or pawsctshelter@gmail.comYou can also bring the original artwork to the shelter on Saturdays from 11:30-1:30 p.m.
Make a map of your community! Show the important places that you go. Need some ideas of how to get started? Check out How to Make an Illustrated Map in 8 Steps

Follow the demo to make a pop-up house! This could be a great card! Pop Up Houses!
Street Art is like graffiti! The work of street artists are important to the community as they make spaces more beautiful or communicate a message. Meet street artist Camille Walala and see how her work changes the community. Meet a Street Artist – Kids' View then try making your own street art using this game (it works best on a laptop): Street Art – Game
Friends are an important part of our community, make a friendship bracelet to share with a friend: Make a Friendship Bracelet – Cut and Paste
Write a note and draw a picture for an essential worker thanking them for their hard work!
Make a paper house garland! Check out this demo Paper House Garland!
Draw a picture of where you live! This could be a map of the inside or a drawing of the outside! Graph paper is great for inside floor-plan drawings!
Write a note and draw a picture for an older person who is self-isolated at home!
Draw your front door. Sit outside and take a close look at what is around the door. Are there plants or steps or a light? Draw as many details as you can see.
Make a plan for an imaginary city or town. Think about bus routes, police stations, hospitals, schools, and other important buildings for a community!
Design your own building (or town) with blocks or legos.
Make an origami house! Here is a tutorial: Origami House- A Five Minute Make and Play Craft Add details if you like!
Listen to Miss Budd read Home by Carson Ellis (on TEAM or here: Read Alouds)
Listen to Me on the Map (Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney)

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International Week: Pakistan

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