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The Legend Of The Indian Paintbrush

Language: English | Español

This Native American story tells about Little Gopher following his destiny as revealed in a Dream-Vision to become an artist for his people and bring the colors of the sunset down to the earth. LeVar visits the Pueblo Indian people of Taos, New Mexico, where Mother Earth plays a crucial role in their art. He interviews a painter, a family of pottery makers, and a family of dancers. Each explains the traditions behind their art and the Native American culture.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Native American Dwelling

You will need:

  • small brown paper bag
  • crayons
  • pencil
  • ruler
  • popcorn kernels

Directions:

Pueblos were homes built by the Native Americans of the Southwest. Using the small paper sack as the shape of the dwelling, use crayon to draw a ladder and a door opening on the front of the brown bag. Add texture to the “walls” with crayon. You can make many of these and then group them together to form a village.

Option:
Corn was very important to the Pueblo Indians. Line the bags with plastic, then add dirt and plant some corn, watering it just a little. In a short time, you can watch the corn plant grow from inside your dwelling.

  

Painting Symbols

Native Americans recorded important tribal events by painting symbols on animal skins. You can also do this type of communication, by using brown paper bags and paint.

Remove the bottom and cut down one side of a large brown grocery sack. Wad it up to create wrinkles to resemble an animal skin. Then spread the paper out on a flat surface. Using bright colors of paint such as red, yellow, and orange, paint special symbols on the paper that tell something about you: things you like to do, the members of your family, a special place you like to visit, a game you play with friends.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Rainbow Crow, retold by Nancy Van Laan
  • Native Americans from the New True Book Series
  • The Mud Pony, retold by Caron Lee Cohen

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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