5th Grade Aboriginal Sculptures

Aboriginal art originates from Australia over 30,000 years ago.  Aborigines began painting on rocks and inside caves with earth tone or neutral colors.  Students learned that back then they couldn’t go to the store to buy paint; they had to find things in nature to make their own paint.  Today Aboriginal Art has three main characteristics, dots, symbols and/or animals.  Aborigines filled their space and did not leave any negative (empty space) in their art.  The Aborigines used symbols in their art to document their travels and experiences.  Students learned that different countries/cultures have different meanings for different symbols.   Students were also introduced to REPITION and UNITY and how to create/find that in a piece of art.  The 5^th grade students review the difference between 2-D and 3-D art.  We also talked about Abstract Art and what it means.  Students were able to create sculpture using a hanger, nylon and block of wood.  Students could choose any colors of their choice but had to fill their sculpture with dots and symbols to represent Aboriginal Art.