Lesson Plans

Mexican Yarn Painting with Wax Works®

1st and 2nd Grade

Objective:

• Introduce students to different cultures through art.

Materials Needed:

• Wax Works®
• One 6” x 6” Piece of Paper
• Paper
• Pencils
• Eraser

Introduction:

1. Nierika yarn paintings are a folk art of the Huichol Indians. These paintings connect them to important spiritual ideas about themselves. The paintings are brilliantly colored designs that differ depending on the intended use of the picture. Common figures are animals, birds, plants and people.
2. Ask the students to think of an important idea in their lives; like friendship, love, family, etc.
3. Ask them to imagine a single image that might represent that idea.

Procedure:

1. Take a 6” x 6” piece of paper. Have the students create a line drawing in the style of the Mexican Yarn Paintings, leaving a 1/2” border around the outside. Instruct them not to fill in any of the areas. A simple line drawing works best.
2. Create a 1/2” border using Wax Works®.
3. Follow the pencil lines of the picture with strips of wax.
4. Fill in the remaining areas with wax, leaving no blank spots in the design. Make sure the wax is pressed firmly together so the picture doesn’t fall apart when it is taken off the paper.
5. Gently pull the picture away from the paper. Securely reattach any pieces that fall out.

Guided Independent Practice:

• Have students write a short sentence describing what idea their painting is all about.
• Ask students to write one or two sentences describing why they picked the image in their painting.

Conclusion:

• Invite students to share their paintings with the class.
• Ask them to describe what the image in their painting means to them and why.
• Explain in simple terms the concept of symbolism as a picture that people choose to show an important idea.