Responsibility to Community & Tribe 

Unit Cultural Theme: Responsibility to Community & Tribe

We all have a responsibility to our tribe and community. Working together produces more effectively than alone. When you have a project, big or small, community involvement builds a stronger community. You can accomplish anything when you work together. 

-Alaska Native Knowledge Network

Understanding Goal: Students will understand that they can accomplish more by working together. 

Essential Question: How can we create a piece of art together that shows pride in our community? 

Unit Overview: 

Students will:

• study examples of regional public artwork and analyze how art can contribute to the community

• learn about murals and discuss any murals they might have in their community 

• identify special characteristics (cultural, traditional, subsistence, etc) of their community  

• create a design that celebrates an aspect of their community and use their designs to create a mural

• use perspective to show near and far using foreground, middle ground, and background in their design

• discuss how size, overlapping and placement of objects are used to show the illusion of space, especially near and far. 

• create multiple drafts of their design, both individually and in a group

• collaborate with their peers to create a piece of artwork

• study basic color theory to help develop painting techniques for the mural

• interview community leaders to find an appropriate location to install their public art piece

• Culminate the unit with a community "unveiling" and celebration of the public art installation!

Alaska Cultural Standard: A1

Assume responsibility for their role in relation to the wellbeing of the cultural community and their life-long obligations as a community member.

Artist Habit of Mind: Understanding Community

Students will work together to establish classroom norms that will help guide the team mentality in the classroom as they work as a team to complete the mural. 

For more information on artist habits of mind and strategies for working as a group, see the links below.