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Rose³ Learning Experience Dot Painting

 "Learning Experience" activities and suggestions that will empower and enable you as educators to support multicultural education using the principles laid out in the new ELYF Framework.

Please find below free valuable, insightful and practical ways that multiculturalism may be brought into your early years learning environment on a daily basis using the "Early Years Learning Framework" (EYLF). 

Each article includes:

• Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcomes
• Key Learning Area Links
• Extension Ideas
• Equipment required
• Instructions
• Global Kids Oz Linked Resources

 All articles on this page have been kindly created and modified specifically for Global Kids Oz use by Rebecca Perkins of Rose 3 Learning Experience, all articles are subject to full copywright guidelines and may only be used within a classroom environment and not to be used for any other article content for any other reason, permission to copy or use this content for anything other than a EYLF setting must be approved in writing by Rebecca Perkins of Rose 3 Learning Experience. To access more learning experiences supporting the full ELYF program please contact Rebecca directly on 0402 284 581 or go to her website www.rose3.com.au

Objective: to develop aboriginal cultural awareness through artistic experience

Equipment

Paper, card or Bark and sticks

Paint (initially red, yellow, brown or “earth” colours*)

Cotton buds or thin sticks* with rounded edges

(*because of the origins of dot painting and the traditional methods use by Australian aborigines keeping the media used natural, if possible, keeps  focus on the experiences objectives.)

Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes*

Outcome 1:  Children

• interact with care, empathy and respect when considering other cultures

Outcome 2:  Children:

• respond to diversity with respect through exposure and sensitive discussion of aboriginal culture.
• become socially responsible and respect the environment through experimentation and discussion.

Outcome 4:  Children:

• develop curiosity, creativity, persistence and imagination through artistic experience.
• develop a range of skills and processes such as inquiry, investigating and experimentation.
• resource their own learning through connecting with people, technologies, natural and processed materials.

Outcome 5: Children:

• interact verbally and non-verbally with others through artistic experience and cultural discussion.
• express ideas and make meaning artistic expression

Instructions

After looking at different types of dot painting in books and on the internet, let the children freely explore this painting technique and the interesting patterns and shapes that emerge.

Take note if children introduce any specific patterns in to their work or they may wish to represent animals and other environmental images. Discuss these representations and questions regarding traditional and contemporary aboriginal culture.

Key Learning Area Links

Pre-Numeracy (Mathematics)

Patterning

Literacy/Vocabulary (English)

red, brown, yellow, dot, aboriginal, bark, sticks Indigenous Australians, Australian environment, Australian animals:  kangaroo, koala, goanna, snakes, platypus, turtles, crocodiles...  (let the children list animals they could represent!)

habitat, bush, painting technique, method.

Health and Physical Education

Fine Motor Skills —paint application with cotton bud or thin stick.

Studies of Society and Environment

Cultural Diversity—Discussion of traditional and contemporary aboriginal culture.

Native Animals  and habitats (endangered species)

The Arts

Artistic experiences and exploration.

Method/technique—Dot Painting

Colour—Earth colours, traditional and modern

Medium –processed and natural paints and    canvases.

Science

Australian native animals/life-cycles

Extension Ideas

Discuss why many aboriginal paintings were traditionally done in colours like  brown, red and yellow.  These colours were made from dirt and rocks crushed and mixed with   water or sap. Make paint with children in this way. Use sticks to paint with, so children can see why dots formed.

Look at pictures/books and internet search Aboriginal Dot Painting.

Go to a museum or art gallery to view this style of art.

Global Kids Oz Linked Resources

Tiddalick the Frog

Australian Indigenous Resource Kits

Aboriginal Play and Educational Mats