Materials
paper grocery bags (one per child)
scissors
craft glue
foam meat trays
plastic forks and knives
washable paint in a variety of colors
hole punch
heavy yarn
Instructions
* November is American Indian Heritage Month.
1. Explain to the children that the Delaware Indians of New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware used pouches to gather food and
other materials needed for daily life. Let the children make their own
creative renditions of a gathering pouch.
2. Encourage the children to cut out a large rectangle from their paper
bags. Draw the rectangle for younger children and let those who cannot
cut tear their bags along a folded line. Help the children fold the narrow
end up, with any printing folded inside. Leave space for a flap at the top.
3. Let the children use craft glue to seal both edges of their pouch, leaving
the top open.
4. Provide plastic forks and knives and demonstrate how to carve designs
into the bottom of foam trays to make printing plates. Help the children
cut out the designs.
5. Spread newspaper over the work area. Pour washable paint into foam
trays. Invite the children to choose their favorite color of paint and cover
a design area using a paintbrush. Help them children gently press the
printing plate on the paper bag to print the design. Encourage them to
repeat with different designs or colors. Let dry.
6. Let the children complete the design pattern on their gathering pouches
using crayons and colored pencils.
7. Help the children punch a hole in each upper corner of the pouch and
thread heavy yarn through the holes to make a strap. Tape the ends
together.
8. Take a nature walk and let the children fill their gathering pouches with
treasures such as leaves, small stones, and flowers.
More to do More Art: Press the flowers and leaves that the children gather. Make a
simple press by layering cardboard, butcher paper, and flowers and put a
heavy book on top of the stack. Use the pressed items in collages and other
art projects.
Math: Encourage the children to sort the items in their pouches by
similarities and differences.
Related Song A Gathering We Will Go by Virginia Jean Herrod
(Tune: "A-Hunting We Will Go")
A-gathering we will go,
A-gathering we will go,
We'll find some flowers
With lots of petal power,
A-gathering we will go.
A-gathering we will go,
A-gathering we will go,
We'll find some stones
And make them our own,
A-gathering we will go.
A-gathering we will go,
A-gathering we will go,
We'll find some leaves
As pretty as you please,
A-gathering we will go.
