Animals Relations to Native American Culture

Grades
6th-8th Peoples Relationship to Animals from Around the World
Aidan Central Focus – Students will learn about Native American culture
O’Neil through their relationship with animals then paint the animal that
relates to their personality traits using John Nieto work as
inspiration.
Essential Questions:
What is the Native Americans relationship with animals, how do they
view animals’ importance?
How can I connect myself with animal traits?
Rationale – Students will acknowledge the respect Native Americans
have towards animals, and how they relate human’s personalities with
animals.

Standards:
VA:Pr6.1.8a – Analyze why and how an exhibition or collection may influence ideas, beliefs, and experiences.
VA:re.7.1.6a – Identify and interpret works of art or design that reveal how people live around the world and what they value.
VA:Re.7.1.8a – Explain how a person’s aesthetic choices are influenced by culture and environment and impact the visual image that
one conveys to others.
VA:Cn11.1.6a – Analyze how art reflects changing times, traditions, resources and cultural uses.
Objectives:
Production – I can create a painting of an animal I believe represents me. VA:Pr6.1.8a
I can paint using techniques inspired by John Nieto. VA:Cn11.1.6a, VA:Re.7.1.8a
Criticism – I can explain why John Nieto paints animals and his perspective about animals. VA:Re.7.1.6a
History – I can understand why Native Americans include animals in their art. VA:Cn11.1.6a, VA:Re.7.1.8a
Aesthetics – I can use bright colors in my artwork that make my animal exciting to look at. VA:Pr6.1.8a
Assessing Questions:
Did the student paint with John Nieto’s style? (many colors in sections)
Did the student follow the start to finish process of painting? (pencil drawing, background, animal)
Can the student explain Native American’s relationship to animals?
Presenting:
Students will gather in small groups the next day and present their work to each other. They will explain what animal they chose
and why they chose it as it relates to themselves. Then explain their own understanding of Native American culture as it relates to
animals. The group will come up with a definition for Native American relationship with animals. (example: Native Americans view
animals as equals to themselves because they connect with human traits.)

Vocabulary:
Collage-Artwork created by gluing
paper, fabric or other materials on
a flat surface.
Negative Space-The empty space
surrounding shapes or forms.
Organic-Utilizes shapes and forms
that are related to or develop
from plant and animal forms.
Steps:
1.Learn about Native American animal
traditions, John Nieto, and
Vocabulary.
2.Introduce project and objectives, Resources:
complete demonstration.
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/inf
ormational/native-american-spirit-
3. Have students pick an animal to
animal
draw the silhouette of and then begin
with the background. https://www.nietofineart.com/nieto-
4. Students will paint the silhouette fine-art-homepage
of their animal with many different
sections of color. https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01
001175/centricity/domain/886/glossary
5. Students will write down the animal
_artterms.pdf
they chose, how it relates to
themselves and how they used John
Nieto’s painting style.