Who Am I?  Where Am I From?

Question #1A:
​Where are we From?  

Colorado

Question #1B:
How did we get here?  

Westward Expansion

Question #2:
​WHO are We?

Indigenous Natives v. Immigrants

Building Background: "American Progress" 

In second grade, students expand understanding of the elements: space and form. These concepts are deepened through explorations of perspective.  In connection to second grade Social Studies standards, we study the cultures and artifacts of indigenous America; in this way, students engage the perspective of how settlers in the past influenced the history of communities, considering the stories of the indigenous populations in the Americas.  To begin our unit, students looked at westward expansion and it's effects on the indigenous populations native to the Colorado Front Range.

GR.2.S-1.GLE.2
people in the past influenced the history of neighborhoods and communities
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Project #1:  Buffalo Skin Narratives
For this project, students studied artifacts of the Arapaho natives whose recorded tribal histories were captured on Buffalo hides. Students wrote stories about life as an Arapaho native, considering the impact of Westward expansion, translating ideas into symbols in the Native American tradition onto a buffalo skin.​

Project #2/3: Baskets and Weaving
Students will be studying the weaving techniques of Native American basket weavers by weaving together their own baskets. Students are also learning about different designs used in basketweaving to construct a mixed media collage of a still life featuring a basket filled with foods native to the Americas.

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One question we considered during our project was how it would feel to be forced to leave your homeland.

"American Progress" by: John Gast

Partner projects

Participatory "partner" projects are a foundational part of our art curriculum. When students carry conversations about art from school to home, learning is strengthened.  Be a partner in your child's art education by participating.

Mapping our Origins
​Partner Project #1:

Origins Letter

We're going to map our history in art! This year 2nd grade is exploring identity by considering origin; in case you missed the letter that came home, here's a copy.