GROUNDED IN CLAY
THE SPIRIT OF PUEBLO POTTERY
THE CURRICULUM
BACKGROUND
The lesson plans included in this curriculum guide, like the exhibition itself, are intended to both teach about Pueblo pottery and its history as well as encourage students to understand the ways in which “objects” hold and carry stories. Through process-driven art activities, students are given the opportunity to engage in inquiry and in practices that are aligned not only with Pueblo artistic conventions – but also with cultural values themselves. While the lifeways of Pueblo peoples are rooted in the Southwestern US, namely what is known as New Mexico and surrounding areas, we believe that Pueblo ideals can be made accessible to everyone regardless of physical location.
This guide is intended for everyone. Across broad and diverse ages, ethnicities, cultures, genders, and learning environments – we believe in encouraging everyone to deepen their understanding of Pueblo material culture. That being said, lesson plans are tailored for K-12 classrooms and can be adapted according to individual needs.
UNIT OVERVIEW and ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
Each lesson plan is based upon one of four themes in the exhibition. These themes are: utility, elements, connections through time and space, and ancestors. Each theme was carefully chosen for the exhibition by the Pueblo Pottery Collective. Together they tell a story about the who, what, where, when, and why of Pueblo pottery.
The unit spans seven consecutive days of learning. When taught in sequence, each lesson builds upon previous lessons. It is also possible to teach individual lessons as standalone lessons without having to reference the activities or resources from the other lesson plans.
Lessons are guided by a series of essential questions that ask students to think more deeply about how they connect to the exhibition themes. The questions, like the lessons, build upon one another. For a more comprehensive experience, review all questions before starting each lesson.
LESSON I
UTILITY: VISUALIZING THE LIFE OF YOUR POTTERY begins by introducing learners to the exhibition Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery. This lesson uses images of selected artworks to invite learners to look closely at, and be inquisitive about, what they see. Many symbols and community-specific designs are included on Pueblo pottery vessels; learners are asked to consider the significance of designs beyond mere “tribal motifs”. How can learners understand the cultural importance of Pueblo symbolism and design by reflecting on personally important imagery?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
⇒ What does Pueblo pottery do? What does your pottery do and why?
⇒ How does pottery function in the lives of Pueblo communities and peoples?
LESSON II
ELEMENTS: MAPPING YOUR POTTERY’S ENVIRONMENT introduces learners to land-based learning and arts-based research. As reflected in the exhibition, “…pottery embodies the elements of earth, wind, fire and water.” What environments surround students’ classrooms and schools – natural and otherwise? How can slow looking inspire students to notice aspects of their surroundings that might otherwise be overlooked?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
⇒ Where does your pottery live?
⇒ How do environmental surroundings influence Pueblo pottery?
LESSON III
CONNECTIONS THROUGH TIME AND SPACE: BRINGING POTTERY TO LIFE sees learners creating their own pottery vessels with techniques commonly used in Pueblo pottery making. This lesson asks learners to reflect on the ways in which pottery can connect Pueblo community members across time and space and to think about the ways that they connect with their own communities. How can students communicate something about themselves and their values through their art?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
⇒ How do I connect with family, friends, and community members?
⇒ How does my pottery vessel reflect who I am and/or what I value?
LESSON IV
ANCESTORS: POTTERY THAT REMEMBERS FORWARD concludes the unit by prompting students to reflect on the future of their pottery and ask themselves: What will my pottery witness? Who will it meet? What stories will it hold? Lesson IV asks learners to think about their own histories and family stories and consider the roles objects/artwork play in passing down knowledge and experiences through generations.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
⇒ What does pottery have to say about the people who made it? About the land that it comes from? About the traditions it embodies?
⇒ How does Pueblo pottery connect Pueblo people to their ancestors and their descendants?
⇒ How do objects tell stories?
Download the Entire Curriculum as a Single PDF
The lesson plans included in this curriculum guide, like the exhibition itself, are intended to both teach about Pueblo pottery and its history as well as encourage students to understand the ways in which “objects” hold and carry stories. Through process-driven art activities, students are given the opportunity to engage in inquiry and in practices that are aligned not only with Pueblo artistic conventions – but also with cultural values themselves. While the lifeways of Pueblo peoples are rooted in the Southwestern US, namely what is known as New Mexico and surrounding areas, we believe that Pueblo ideals can be made accessible to everyone regardless of physical location.
This guide is intended for everyone. Across broad and diverse ages, ethnicities, cultures, genders, and learning environments – we believe in encouraging everyone to deepen their understanding of Pueblo material culture. That being said, lesson plans are tailored for K-12 classrooms and can be adapted according to individual needs.
