7. NATIVE AMERICAN CRAFT—SAND PAINTING

Children love to sand paint. The idea that they can use real sand to make a picture just intrigues them—the thought of the messiness of the sand to make a picture just delight their imagination.  They love all the colors and the feeling of the sand, especially those children who have gone to the beach and made sand sculptures.  I explain to the children how the Navajo people believe the universe to be delicately balanced.  Only man can upset it, causing disaster and or illness. When this happens the medicine man must restore the natural balance. Balance is restored in the universe by healing the offender with chants, herbs, prayers, songs and sand painting. Most sand paintings use symbols, fetish, and kachina dolls for their works and are created using natural colored sand found in the desert

The Native Americans are not the only people who think the sand paintings are sacred. There are sand paintings in India, Australia by the aborigines, Japan, Tibetan, and other countries that are made by healers.

 I usually bring a sand painting I own to show them how it looks and feels so the kids get a better idea of what to do.  If you do not have access to a sand painting, use the computer to show the kids typical Navajo sand paintings.

After I show my painting I will also show pictures of typical kachina , fetish, and  symbols that are used by the Navajo. Each child can draw their interpretation on oak tag as plain art paper is too thin and will rip quickly.  I will also not give a regular size paper because I have the children make a frame using popsicle sticks.

It is easier for the children to use if you put the sand in small bottles with a squeeze bottle tip. If you don’t have that, put a small amount of sand in a small paper cup with a small paintbrush for the glue. Don’t forget to put plastic covering or newspaper on the tables for the dropped sand and glue.

1. Have the children draw their picture.
2. Show how the glue is put on a small area, than the sand wanted is sprinkled on. Give each child a paper plate to do the pouring over. Have them move the picture back and forth to have the glue catch the sand. Than do the same thing with another small area that is using the same color sand.

1. Put the extra sand back into whatever you are using to hold the sand.
2. Paint with only one color at a time so as not to mix the sand. The paper plate for catching the sand is very important so you will capture the extra sand for others to use. Kids have a habit of pouring too much sand at one time and the plate under the picture will capture most of it so you have enough sand for all the kids.

1. Hand out popsicle sticks for the frame and have the kids paint or use markers to color them.
2. Let it all dry overnight- Next day put it all together.
   When cleaning the tables you can make a mixed bowl of all the dropped sand and use it for something else. The kids love it all mixed.