131 Storyteller Dolls Lesson Plan

Storyteller Dolls are a traditional craft of the Jimez Tribe in the Southwestern United States. Usually they feature a seated woman with an open mouth telling a story to groups of tiny children who are sprinkled on her lap and around her.

This lesson is great for Library Week or to encourage reading and being read to. A display in the school library is a nice idea.

Grades: 3 and Up

Time Frame: 2-3 art periods

Materials and Tools:
Session One: Self-hardening Clay, water containers, clay tools (plastic cutlery, old pencils, sticks, etc.)
Session Two and Three: Acrylic Paint, brushes, water cans

Obviously, if you have access to a kiln, you should use real clay and fire the dolls. Glaze with earth colors, letting the red or white clay be part of the pieces.

Motivation/Visuals:
Examples of "real" Storyteller Dolls
Talk about the difference of telling a story and reading a story. Excite the children by having them imagine who (or what) will be all around them. Their family? Friends? Pets?

Vocabulary:
three-dimensional, narrative, Native Americans, texture, pattern

NYS Standards: 1,2,3,4

Procedure:
Session One: Show students examples of the storyteller dolls and ask them about the people (or animals) they might want to tell or read stories to. Talk about crafts and what tradition means.

Demonstrate how to make a star by pulling it out of the clay and form a sitting figure. Give the figure shoes and have the arms wrap around front. Make a book and attach it to the arms by scratching, wetting and sticking both sides of what is being attached. (Clay shrinks and pieces will fall off in the drying process otherwise.)

Using a stick or pencil, push in to form an open mouth and pinch or draw facial details, hair and clothing. The make your tiny figures and add them everywhere and anywhere. Just remember to scratch, wet and stick both sides when attaching them. Let dry.

Session Two: Show students

pictures again and talk about the patterns and designs on the clothing and jewelry. Demonstrate proper painting technique (washing your brush between colors, wiping on the insurance policy (damp sponge or damp paper towels, folded) to make sure the paint is off. Have them be mindful of choosing the right brush for the job. Make sure they paint the back, as well.

Assessment:
Create a rubric chart if you need to assess the work. Things like: "Doll is 3-dimensional and looks good from all sides" and student has added facial details to the children and pets" might be examples.

Closure/Reflection:
Share the work in some fashion and have students write about the project if you want to. Display the work, if possible.

Follow-Up:
Students could do another clay lesson with more complexity (Make your family, for instance), or they could write a story that the doll could be reading.

Special Needs:
If you have gifted students, encourage them to make more than one doll or have them make the  children all reading books, too.

With learning disabled students, break the lesson down in steps, if necessary. They might need attaching help and be sure they watch your demonstration at the beginning.