Developed by:
Layla Turner
Basket Photos Courtesy of
Adobe Gallery @ http://www.adobegallery.com/view.php?page=Home
OverviewIn this web quest
we will explore the role that basket weaving played in the lives of past and modern
day Pima and Maricopa tribes. We will recognize different
symbols used in basket weaving as well as the usefulness of the practice. You
will then design your OWN basket by weaving together materials or recreate a
design as a painting or drawing. It would be great if you could find examples
of REAL baskets and the materials used to make them! If possible invite a guest speaker to
your school to talk and possibly do a demonstration. Take a field trip to the
Introduction
HELP!! Someone’s culture is about to
disappear! The traditions of Native Americans in your area are dying! The Pima
and Maricopa tribes are asking for your help to keep their traditions alive by
learning about and sharing them. Your assignment is to learn about basket
weaving and share what you have learned with your classmates.
Have you ever
reached into a basket full of goodies and fun on Easter morning? Have you ever
taken a picnic in the spring and reached into your picnic basket to grab some
food? Have you ever thrown your dirty laundry or a magazine in a wicker basket?
If so, you realize that baskets are very useful. They can help us do many
things. Civilizations around the world all have some type of basket weaving
tradition. Now it’s time to explore a basket weaving tradition from a
civilization that is right in your backyard…before it’s gone!
Task: You
are going to be looking at many different websites to find information about
the history and practice of basket weaving used by the Pima and Maricopa
tribes. You need to find out what the baskets were used for and why they were
and still are important in the people’s lives. When you are finished
exploring this topic, the fun begins: YOU MAKE YOUR OWN BASKET or MAKE YOUR OWN
BASKET DESIGN!
You will be
divided into groups of three. Each person in your group will have one of the
following roles: 1. Furious Fact Finders, 2. Intelligent Investigator, 3. Art
Critic/Artist. All roles are important. Each role has some written work
involved. You can choose roles based on what each person is interested in, or
simply draw names out of a hat.
Questions:
·
How did basket weaving begin?
·
What role did basket weaving play in the lives of the Pima
and Maricopa tribes?
·
What role does basket weaving
still play?
·
What are some of the symbols used
in basket designs?
Student Roles/Titles
Person 1:
Furious Fact Finder- You will become a Furious Fact Finder on this search for
what basket weaving is all about. You can research different websites and learn
about basket weaving in the southwest.
Person 2:
Intelligent Investigator- You will
become an Intelligent Investigator to figure out why basket weaving is
and was important.
Person 3: Art Critic/ Artist - You will become and Art Critic, looking at baskets and the symbols found on them! You decide which symbol you like best, then you can become an actual artist, recreating the design you find most appealing
.
You must all work together to find the answers to
these questions. Each role is very important. It is your job to save this
cultural aspect of basket weaving by sharing it with your class. Decide who is
going to play each role in your group, and then get to work! Once you have all
completed your assignment for your role, you can get together and share what
each of you has learned. Then, decide how you want to present this to the
class.
Directions:
FURIOUS FACT FINDER: Answer
this question “How
did basket weaving begin?” Include
dates and reasons for making baskets.
Use the following websites to help you: Basket Weaving History
Pima/Maricopa Tribe *Look under the title Pima/Maricopa*
Pima and Tohono O'Odham Baskets
**YOU CAN ALSO LOOK FOR OTHER WEBSITES
WHICH MIGHT HELP YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION. **
*Make a graphic organizer like the one below to help you organize your
information. You can print it out if that is easier.*
INTELLIGENT INVESTIGATOR: Answer these questions: “What role did basket
weaving play in the lives of the Pima and Maricopa tribes? And What role does basket weaving still play?” Try to
think about WHY it would be important to the tribes. What did they use it for?
Who wove the baskets? Why do Pima and Maricopa tribes STILL weave baskets?
Use the following
websites to help you:
Amerind
Newsletter
Pima and Tohono O'Odham Baskets
TOCA Basket weavers Association
**YOU CAN ALSO LOOK FOR OTHER WEBSITES
WHICH MIGHT HELP YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION. **
*Make a graphic organizer like the one below to help you organize your
information. You can print it out if that is easier.*
ART CRITIC/ARTIST: As the
Art Critic/Artist, you will be assuming two roles. You are going to critique
(judge) art. Do you like the pieces that you see? Why do you like them?
Describe the pictures you see. Once you have answered these questions, pick a
one, two or three that you would like to replicate. You can either draw/paint
the designs, OR if you have access to materials for weaving, you can try to
weave a basket yourself. *You may need to ask your teacher for help gathering
supplies and directions for this.
Use the following websites to help you: Squash Blossom Design
Basket Bowl With
Modified Butterfly Design
**YOU CAN ALSO LOOK FOR OTHER WEBSITES WHICH MIGHT HELP YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION. **
*Make a graphic organizer like the one below to help
you organize your information. You can print it out if that is easier.*
Once ALL members of the group have completed their
graphic organizers and answered all questions, you must cooperate to present
this information to your class. Some options are listed below. If you have a
better idea, ask your teacher if it is okay. Remember you are trying to save a
culture, but you must INFORM your class, and they must REMEMBER what you tell
them. If not, people will forget. To accomplish this goal, you must make your
presentation INTERESTING!!!
Courtesy of 2003 Poster
Presentations
·
Graphic
Poster Presentation- Make a poster which answers all of the questions asked in
this web quest. Use pictures and information to make it more interesting
Courtesy of LR Communication systems INC.
·
Oral
Presentation- Tell a story or give a speech which answers all of the questions
in this web quest. After you have presented what you have learned, ask your
class for questions and try to start a discussion. A topic might be “Do
you think it is important to save cultural things like arts and crafts?
Why?”
Courtesy of FRC
·
PowerPoint
·
Suggestions
approved by your teacher
ü
Possible
Examples:
§
Make a skit which
informs your class about this topic.
§
Write a poem
describing the history of basket weaving and why it is still important.
§
Make an art
gallery in a section of your class with examples of designs or actual baskets.
Tell a little bit about each design. Include some historical facts.
BE CREATIVE!!!
Evaluation/Grading Criteria
Your overall project will be
judged using the following rubric.
Your presentation will be
evaluated using the following rubric.
Conclusion
After
presenting to your class, how do you feel?
§
Do you think you
preserved the culture?
§
Is there
anything in your own culture that is important the way that basket weaving is?
§
Are you
preserving this part of your culture?
§
Why is important
to preserve things like basket weaving?
§
Is art an
important part of culture? Why?
*Additional graphics on site courtesy
of Bairs Indian Trading Company http://www.bairsindiantradingco.com/basket_items/66-13-70_MM.htm