Native American Lesson Plan: Mississippian/Ancient
Please see the ANCIENT HISTORY SECTION of this website/source book for more
in-depth discussion of the Mississippian period.
Grade Level: 5th Grade Students
Kentucky Core Content 4.1:
AH-05-1.4.2
Students will identify or describe how an artist uses various media and processes.
AH-05-2.4.1
Students will describe or explain how visual art has been a part of cultures and time periods
throughout history.
AH-05-3.4.1
Students will describe or explain how art fulfills a variety of purposes.
Ceremonial - ritual, celebration, artworks created to support worship ceremonies
(e.g., ceremonial masks)
Title: Ancient Peoples, Cherokee Ancestors, and the Transformation of Man to Animal
Duration: 1-2 class periods (can be stretched to three classes)
Objective: Students will gain a basic understanding of the history of the ancient Native
Americans (probable Cherokee ancestors). In particular, they will look at shell
ornaments made during the Mississippian period.
Essential Questions:
Who were the Mississippians?
The Mississippians were people of a culture that pre-dates European explorers and
settlers arrival in the Americas. The Mississippian culture lasted from the year 800 to
1500 AD and included the people between the Mississippi River and the Tennessee
Valley. They are sometimes referred to as “mound builders,” due to the mounds they
erected as ceremonial and burial structures.
What are shell ornaments/gorgets?
Shell gorgets are decorative ornaments typically worn around the neck. Two holes were
drilled in order to thread a leather thong through and the gorgets were carved with
symbols drawn from the peoples’ beliefs and stories.
- http://www.mississippian-artifacts.com/ (Shell Ornament section)
Materials:
This is a lesson to be done using clay – non-toxic self-drying clay can also be used in a
pinch.
Materials needed:
With kiln, clay - without kiln, self-drying clay
Toothpicks
With kiln, glaze – without kiln, tempera (or acrylic) paint
String
Straws (to punch holes in clay)
Procedure:
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Have students look at images of Mississippian shell
ornaments. (see website http://www.mississippianartifacts.com/)
After looking at and discussing the images, have students
DRAW on a sheet of paper their own design for a shell
ornament – these should be based on the Mississippian
gorgets, but should be the students’ own design. Ex:
athletes, animals, comic book heroes, etc.
Have the students wedge clay (get the air bubbles out of the
clay) and flatten with the palm of their hand.
Once they have flattened the clay, use the toothpick to draw
in the clay the design the student created on the paper.
Teacher: use the straw to punch out holes for the
attachment of string after completion of the project.
NOTE: If you do not have time in class on the first day to
both draw on paper and then on clay DO NOT START
THE CLAY UNTILL THE NEXT DAY!! If you start and
don’t finish, especially with the self-drying clay, it will dry
out and not be able to be worked easily –unless you keep it
wet, which is a task.
If you are going to fire the clay in a kiln, and you have
access to glazes, apply glaze after the pieces have dried
completely and you have bisque fired. Have students
choose only one color.
If you are using paint, after the clay has hardened and you
have bisque fired the piece, have the students choose a
color to paint their piece.
Final step: Run string through hole(s) and tie into a
necklace.
Ornament can be displayed around the students’ neck or
hung up.
Assessment:
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Scoring scale to be determined by teacher
Recommended to keep in mind:
Full credit – student completes the assignment to the best of his/her ability
follows each step, does not misuse material (media)
Half credit – student partially completes assignment to the best of his/her ability
No credit – student does not complete assignment, and misuses the material.