Inuit art refers to artwork produced by Inuit people (DUH!), which mean, people that lived in the Arctic. The term Eskimos might be what you are use to hearing/using, however, it is now considered offensive outside Alaska. (just a little fact courtesy of Wikipedia.)
Historically their preferred medium was walrus ivory... but I think everyone would look down on me if I killed some walruses just for my 5th grade class... so we used a different kind of Ivory...
My 5th grade students read the book Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. This book is about a young girl who takes to living with wolves in the Alaskan Tundra.
I want to try to show my students all kinds of art from all over the world. This project was cool because we looked at ton of Inuit art and I think it was something different from anything they had ever seen or done.
Kids learned:
Subtractive method of sculpting
Different types of stone
Working with a fragile material
Carving in a small area (great for fine motor skills)
All you need for this lesson is awesome example of Inuit art, a bar of ivory soap, and something to carve with... I went to good will and bought some butter knives and spoons. For the students carving, they had to choose an arctic animal and have a simple background (if there was room).
Need some inspiration? Go here.
Here are some examples of my students finish soap carvings!
Cool huh?
Art work at the top of post:
Agnes Nanogak and Louis Nigiyok, Holman,
Kangot (White Geese) , Stonecut 44/50, 1984
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