Mola DesignsGrade 5

DMPS Art Competences: Students should be able to communicate at a basic level of visual arts. This

includes knowledge and skills in the use of basic vocabularies, materials, tools, techniques, and intellectual methods of discipline.

Students should have informed acquaintance with exemplary works of art from a variety of cultures and historical periods and a basic understanding of historical development in the arts disciplines, across the arts as a whole, and within cultures. (NAEA, 1994).

Objectives:After choosing an animal design students will demonstrate competency in an appliqué technique by layering paper or fabric to create a Mola. Students will develop technical skills by using needle and thread to sew layers of fabric (5V only).Students will be introduced to Molas in their historical and cultural contexts.

Materials:10X16 manila paperPencilsErasersMarkersScissorsMola PowerPointDynamic Art Projects for Children by Denise M. Logan, Page 81 and 85 handout

Additional Materials:5V 5A & 5W

White crayons White Construction Paper (cut to 10X16)Fabric Colored Construction Paper (11X17)Thread GlueSewing NeedlesZip Lock bags

Hook: Show students images of traditional Molas and read Page 81 from Dynamic Art Projects for Children

Vocabulary:Mola: the appliqué panels of a Kuna woman’s blouse which have gained renown as a distinct form of folk art (Dynamic Art Projects for Children, Page 112).Rhythm: A Principle of Art that creates visual movement.

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Appliqué: A method of decoration in which a motif is cut from one piece of material and attached or “applied” to another.

Day 1

Introduction:For our next project we are going to look at Molas. Molas are the traditional clothing of Kuna women from the San Blas Islands in Panama. First, we are going to look at some images of Molas so when we read the short article about Molas, you can picture in your mind what they look like. This will help you to better understand the reading. (Mola PowerPoint- see below) (Add images of student work once this lesson has been implemented and student examples are available.)Notice how there are a lot of different repeating patterns and shapes on these images, this repetition gives the image rhythm. Rhythm is a Principle of Art that creates visual movement. I am going to say that once more then we will say it together as a class. (Fast map)

I also want you to notice all the different sections in the images. In traditional Molas, these are different layers of fabric. (5V – for this project you will be using fabric to create your own Mola.)(5W & 5A – for this project you will be using construction paper to create a Mola.)

Now that we know what Molas look like, we are going to do a short reading about them to help us understand them in culture and in history. (Read from Dynamic Art Projects for Children page 81 - see page 7 and 8 below) What is one thing that you found interesting about Molas or Kuna Indians?

On the back of your reading you have images of Mola templates. I want you to pick one that you like and want to use for your Mola. After you pick the one you like draw it large on your practice paper. This will end up being a stencil for you to use throughout the whole project. (Show own example and demo numbering layers. Discuss criteria on rubric (see below))

Today’s Goals/Procedures:1. Choose a design that you like from the templates provided.

2. Draw your image on your manila paper in pencil! Draw it as large as you can.3. Number the “layers” you will have from the inside out.

4. Color in the “layers” with marker or crayon(Teacher circulates room assisting students and indirectly assessing individual student

understanding of today’s goals/procedures)

Wrap Up/Clean Up: (5 minutes)Raise your hand if you are done with your stencil. (Take note of how many are done)

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Make sure your name is on your paper and have one person from your table collect them and bring them to me, another person collect the handout and put on the middle table. Return borrowed pencils, put caps on markers and put them in tub, make sure table is clean then line up on blue line.

Day 2

Introduction:Who can tell me what we did last time?(Review of Mola Design Day 1)

5V:Today I want you to finish your stencil if you haven’t already. For those who are done, you will pick out the fabric you want for your Mola, because you have to have at least 3 layers you will want at least three different colors, one for each layer. (Teacher will move around the room during work time, providing assistance and checking understanding of procedures.)

Procedures:1. Cut out stencil2. Choose fabric

3. Determine which will be the first layer, second layer and the third layer or fourth layer

4. Trace outline onto first fabric color using a white colored pencil5. Cut out carefully following lines

6. On your stencil cut away your first layer7. Use your stencil to trace the second layer onto your second layer fabric color

8. Cut away second layer on stencil (you will have multiple little pieces now)9. Arrange third layer stencils onto fabric, trace, and cut out

10. Repeat if you have a fourth layer11. Place third layer of fabric on background and sew together

12. Place second layer on third layer and sew together13.Repeat with third and fourth layers

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5A & 5W:Today I want you to finish your stencil if you haven’t already. For those who are done you will get your final white paper and the construction paper you will need for your layers. . (Teacher will move around the room during work time, providing assistance and checking understanding of procedures.)

Procedures:1. Cut out stencil to layer one

2. Get white background paper and colored construction paper3. Determine which will be the first layer color, second layer, and third or fourth

layer4. Trace the outline of your stencil onto your first layer color

5. Cut out and paste onto white background 6. Cut away layer one to layer two on stencil7. Trace on to second layer colored paper

8. Cut out colored paper image and paste to the top of layer one9. Cut away second layer, you will have multiple small stencils now, arrange on

third colored paper, trace, cut out and paste on top of layer two 10. Repeat if you have a fourth layer

Day 3, 4(5V)Work Day (see Day 2 for directions and steps for finishing. Teacher will walk around room to assist students and assess progress.) Demo sewing for 5V.

Materials:Embroidery Floss (multi-colored)Needles (count needles before and after class to make sure all are returned)

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Day 5, 6

5V:Materials for demo:Mola Design Card board that Mola fits on White fabric cut to wrap around cardboard, with an inch to wrap and attach to backElmer’s GlueBlack Sharpie

Introduction:Today I want to show you how we are going to finish our Molas. We have some cardboard here, you will choose a piece that your Mola will fit on with some space around it. Then, you will get white fabric. Lay your cardboard on your fabric then measure an inch around the cardboard. This will give us enough fabric to wrap our cardboard completely. (Demo these steps) The way we are going to attach the fabric to the cardboard is with Elmer’s Glue, we will cover the cardboard with some glue and smear it around to make a thin layer of glue all over the cardboard. Then, center the fabric on the cardboard and press it down to help it secure them. Then we will flip it upside down, and glue the excess fabric to the back of the cardboard. The final step is to spread a thin layer of glue on the back of your Mola then center it on the cardboard and press it down. We also want to use a Sharpie to sign our names at the bottom right hand corner of the board.

Goals today:Finish sewing

“Stretch” (Mount) White background fabric to cardboard(Teacher should walk around room to assist students when needed and check

progress.)

Clean Up:End Class 10 minutes early. Clean Up for 5 minutes and give student self-assessment for the last 5 minutes.

5A&5W:Materials for demo: Mola designWhite drawing paper cut to 17 X 11 Black construction paper 18 X 12 Elmer’s Glue Black Sharpie

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Introduction: Today I want to demo for you how to finish up with your Mola. Your Mola will be mounted onto white paper, then to a larger black paper. The black piece forms a border around our artwork which helps it to look finished! I would also like you to add your artist’s signature in the bottom right hand corner of the white page. (Demo using small beads of glue to glue Mola to white, and small beads of glue around the edges of white paper, center on black, use Sharpie to sign.)

Goals Today:Finish Mola

Mount and Sign!Complete self-assessment

Clean Up:End Class 10 minutes early. Clean Up for 5 minutes and give student self-assessment for the last 5 minutes.

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Name _________________________ Class_________________________

Did I?...Mola Self-Assessment

Directions: Answer the following questions about your Mola project.

1. Draw my mola stencil? Yes No

2. Label and color the layers on my Mola stencil? Yes No

3. Did I use my stencil to create the layers of my mola with construction paper/fabric?

Yes No

4. Does my final mola have at least three layers? Yes No

5. Did I mount my mola on black paper? Yes No

6. Did I listen and follow directions during instruction and clean up? Yes No

7. Are you happy with your end product? Yes No

8. Rate your enjoyment of this project from 1 – 10; 10 being the highest (you really enjoyed it).

9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10.Why did you rate the assignment the way you did?

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Rubric

Criteria 25 20 15 10

Craftsmanship (time and care with materials)

Above average quality

Average quality

Beginning quality

Limited quality/ little time and

care

A Mola stencil was created

with at least 3 layers that are

labeled

Mola stencil has 3+ layers

that are labeled

Mola stencil has 3 layers

Mola stencil has 2 layers

Mola stencil has 1 layer

Finished Mola has three appliquéd

layers

Mola has 3+ layers applied by glue and or

sewing

Mola has 2-3 layers

Finished Mola has 1-2 layers

Finished Mola has 1 layer

Completed Self-

Assessment

Student completed

assessment thoughtfully

and completely

Student completed

assessment

Student completed

only parts of the

assessment

Student did not complete assessment

Total Points _______/100

10