Traditionally, Africans wear kente cloths to special ceremonies including birthdays, holidays, religious ceremonies and other celebrations. These cloths are woven with cotton thread into colorful geometric designs. Green represents the earth, blue is innocence, red is life blood, black is unity and gold means strength. Students may create their own kente strips on muslin by drawing geometric designs with permanent marker and painting the designs in with tempera paint. Discuss what the colors mean and provide examples of kente designs to help students choose a pattern.
Native American tribes often used a talking stone or stick during group gatherings to make sure everyone was heard. Only the person holding the highly decorated stick or rock could speak. Students can work together to make their own talking stick that they can then use during class discussions and activities to ensure everyone listens to everyone else. Simply mark off a 1- or 2-inch section on a thick dowel rod for each student. Students then color in and decorate their section with paint, markers, ribbons and feathers. Discuss with students how they are working together to make something everyone use and how that translates to other areas of life. Students may complete Native American--themed coloring pages, crossword puzzles or word finds while they wait to color in their section of the stick.
Australian tribal natives play a traditional instrument called a didgeridoo that produces a low, buzzing sound. Made of hollowed wood and highly decorated, a didgeridoo is often barely shorter than the player. Students may make didgeridoos from sturdy cardboard wrapping-paper tubes. Simply paint and decorate the outside of the tube, using pictures of didgeridoos and traditional Australian motifs as references. Play the didgeridoo by placing your mouth inside the top opening of the tube and buzzing your lips together. The sound will echo through the tube.