Fun-Arts Year 1: “Common Threads” (Global Themes: Masks, Shaking Instruments, Dragons, Friendship & Families, Humor, Space) Lesson 2: Rain Forests & Rain Sticks Track 6: “The Rain Season”

Rain Sticks & Music: Lesson Plan Rain Forests Rain Forests Rain sticks Rain sticks Geometric patterns Geometric patterns Music from Peru Music from Peru Hieroglyphics from Guatemala Hieroglyphics from Guatemala Let’s Create! Let’s Create!

What are rain forests? A kind of forest (trees) A kind of forest (trees) They are dense, warm and wet. They are dense, warm and wet. 68 – 180” of rainfall each year. 68 – 180” of rainfall each year. They have light & shadow. They have light & shadow. Canopy gets sunlight. Canopy gets sunlight. Bottom layers: Bottom layers: Understory Understory Shrub Shrub Floor Floor

Where are rain forests?

Why are rain forests important? Plants live there. Plants live there. Animals live there Animals live there jaguars, anacondas, pink dolphins, toucans, insects, tree frogs.... jaguars, anacondas, pink dolphins, toucans, insects, tree frogs.... People live in rain forests. People live in rain forests. 25% of all natural medicines are made from rain forest plants. 25% of all natural medicines are made from rain forest plants. Water = Life! Water = Life! They are home to over 2/3 of all of Earth’s living plant and animal species! They are home to over 2/3 of all of Earth’s living plant and animal species! Millions of plants, animals and insects are undiscovered. Millions of plants, animals and insects are undiscovered.

Masters of Camouflage Patterns

What is a rain stick? A rain stick is a shaking instrument. A rain stick is a shaking instrument. These are from Chile. These are from Chile. They invite rain. They invite rain. They are tube shaped. They are tube shaped. dried Capado cactus dried Capado cactus Maze-like inside Maze-like inside Cactus thorns are poked in aspiral pattern inside Cactus thorns are poked in aspiral pattern inside There are shells, stones or seeds inside There are shells, stones or seeds inside They are decorated with geometric patterns outside They are decorated with geometric patterns outside Maracas & other shaking instruments are found all around the world. Maracas & other shaking instruments are found all around the world.

Look closely! What materials were used on these rain sticks? What materials were used on these rain sticks? Colors Colors Shapes Shapes Repeating geometric patterns Repeating geometric patterns Compare with Navajo Shaman Rattles and patterns on cloth Compare with Navajo Shaman Rattles and patterns on cloth This flute player is from Peru. Notice patterns on the cloth? This flute player is from Peru. Notice patterns on the cloth?

Geometry in Peru These ancient walls were built with stones cut so perfectly, they fit tightly together without concrete or mortar. They did not use arches over openings – they used a “lintel.” Peruvian cloth is bright, colorful, and has many geometric details.

Track 7 (1:03) “Despedida ” Track 7 (1:03) “Despedida ” Track 8 (3:52) “Danza De Los Caporales” Track 8 (3:52) “Danza De Los Caporales” Tempo? (fast or slow) Tempo? (fast or slow) Dynamics? (loud or soft) Dynamics? (loud or soft) Instruments: Instruments: percussion rhythm percussion rhythm string & flute instruments string & flute instruments Nearly all cultures around the world use some kind of flute instrument. Nearly all cultures around the world use some kind of flute instrument. Where is Peru? Where is Peru? Music from Peru Zampona – as old as Incas Bamboo Quena Flute – as old as Incas too!

Hieroglyphics are pictures that symbolize words and stories. Hieroglyphics are pictures that symbolize words and stories. Symbol = picture that means something Symbol = picture that means something RIGHT: Mayan writing  RIGHT: Mayan writing  Mayan civilization began about 1800BCE in Central America (parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize & northern El Salvador) Mayan civilization began about 1800BCE in Central America (parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize & northern El Salvador) Can you name an ancient culture on African Continent with temples decorated with hieroglyphics? Can you name an ancient culture on African Continent with temples decorated with hieroglyphics? Ancient Mayan Writing ANCIENT EGYPT!

Let’s Create! Needed: tape, paper, crayons, tubes & pre-cut end pieces (or clean/empty/water bottles with caps), rice, newspaper/papertowels. Needed: tape, paper, crayons, tubes & pre-cut end pieces (or clean/empty/water bottles with caps), rice, newspaper/papertowels. Put name along edge of colored paper Put name along edge of colored paper Decorate paper with symbols and patterns (see next slide). Decorate paper with symbols and patterns (see next slide). Twirl a piece of newspaper/paper towel and push into tube. Twirl a piece of newspaper/paper towel and push into tube. Close off bottom of tube, pour in rice, and close top. Close off bottom of tube, pour in rice, and close top. Tape or glue decorated paper to outside of tube Tape or glue decorated paper to outside of tube Make sure you can still see the artist’s name. Make sure you can still see the artist’s name. Fun to add: feathers, yarn, burlap on ends (tie on w/raffia or yarn). Fun to add: feathers, yarn, burlap on ends (tie on w/raffia or yarn). Background music: tracks 6,7,8. Background music: tracks 6,7,8. Next Lesson: texture, metal work and dragons) Next Lesson: texture, metal work and dragons) Track 6, 7, 8: “The Rain Season”, “Despedida”, “Danza De Los Caporales”

MAYAN GLYPHS

Credits Fun-Arts is written and developed by Monica Merrill Vinberg with assistance from Christine Krause. Fun-Arts is written and developed by Monica Merrill Vinberg with assistance from Christine Krause. Fun-Arts is a non-profit group hoping to share the world’s fine arts treasures with the rightful heirs: all children. Fun-Arts is a non-profit group hoping to share the world’s fine arts treasures with the rightful heirs: all children. Thank you to Troy Martinez for the idea of making rain sticks in Thank you to Troy Martinez for the idea of making rain sticks in All materials copyright Fun-Arts 2013 All materials copyright Fun-Arts 2013 For more info: For more info:

Where in the World? (click HERE to return to last viewed screen) Chile Peru