Title – Ashanti Dolls

By – Matthew Lane

Primary Subject – Art

Secondary Subject – SS

Grade Level – 3-5

Objectives:

To familiarize students the subject matter, style, colors, materials, and the meaning in African art. This project focuses on culture and tradition.

Materials needed:

CRAFT STICKS (ONE PER STUDENT)

YARN

BROWN CONSTRUCTION PAPER

GLUE

CRAYONS

SCISSORS

HOLE PUNCHERS

EXAMPLE OF ASHANTI DOLL

Day 1

Discuss the Ashanti people and how the doll fits into their culture.

The doll is not a toy and it is not for children to play with. The doll represents the hope of a future baby for the couple who creates it. An Ashanti couple uses the doll to prove to their gods and their fellow Ashanti that they could look after a child much like an egg is used in America in many high school classes to teach the responsibilities of parenthood. The Ashanti couple will bathe it as they would a real child. They carry it everywhere they go as they would a baby. They will braid its “hair” as they would a real child’s. They will present it with food at every meal to prove that they can support another mouth to feed.

The students will then begin construction of their own doll. They will view the example of the doll provided by the teacher. They will then use a circle pattern (for a girl) or a square pattern (for a boy)to create a head for their child. The students will then use a T shaped pattern to create a body for their dolls. The students will then use a craft stick to connect the two separate pieces. They will glue both construction paper pieces to the stick leaving a one- to two-inch gap between them.

Day 2

The students will wrap the craft stick gap (neck)between the head and body of their dolls with their choice of yarn. The students will then use glue, yarn, hole punchers and crayons to create their own Ashanti doll. The students are encouraged to use traditional designs of decoration, but are also encouraged to add a personal touch since it represents their future children.

In the past, I have used this lesson with the 5th grade and this project is displayed with other work from the regular classroom on the cultures of Africa.

E-Mail

Matthew Lane

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