Navajo Cacti Drawing

       The above image is the example project I created for the drawing lesson I designed and implemented with Miss Farrand.  In our lesson, we discussed the Navajo culture before beginning our drawings of cacti.  We showed a powerpoint with examples of different patterns and cacti.  Then, we had the students create two different patterns on a sheet of paper that we gave.  We also had the students add texture to two different cacti on that same sheet of paper.  After discussing the Navajo culture and different cacti, we showed the steps to create our cacti drawings.  First, the students drew their pot in pencil on their piece of watercolor paper.  Their pots could be any shape or size they wanted.  Then, they drew their patterns on their pots.  Finally, they drew three different shaped cacti in their pots.  The students then traced their pencil lines with a black sharpie and added their texture on their cacti.  We then tapped the students' papers onto their desks so when they started painting the paper would not wrinkle.  The students then painted their background.  They used the color brown for their ground and warm colors as their sky.  Once the paint was dry, the students could color their pot and their cacti.  The students were required to use three different hues of the color green.  After their cacti drawings were complete the students removed the tape and added a frame to their artwork.  

       An extension activity for this project could be to actually plant and grow cacti.  Each student would have their own cactus and pot that they designed.  Each day they would check up on their cactus plant and water it if they need to.  This activity could be incorporated during a science class after talking about cacti or even during a social studies class after discussing the Navajo culture.