Grade Level: 12th

Rationale: Art or Artifact: Dogu & Kachina Dolls

Over the course of three weeks students will be learning about Dogu, Kachina and various other
small sculptures, totems and dolls from various cultures. Students will watch a film, construct their own
PowerPoint presentation, write essays, learn vocabulary, take a vocabulary test, a quiz, create their own
pinch pot Dogu or Kachina doll & for a final assignment students will write a term paper in MLA
format. During the lesson students will be exposed to the differing cultures of Japan, Native American
Indians and others. Students will need to utilize technology, tools of clay sculpting, & valid research
resources. The students will learn the purposes, origins and historical significance of sympathetic magic
dolls from different cultures throughout history. The lesson has English components, Art construction
components, technology components, Social Studies components, History components, and even a
Science component, (archeology). Students will compile their own resource list, will learn terminology
related to sculpture, pottery & clay firing. Students will be able to identify the differ'
between what constitutes a work of Art and an Artifact object. This will be explored via the avenue of
the fact that Kachina Dolls are still being made on various reservations all across the United States.
Students will be led to discover that because Kachina dolls are being made currently and can be found
from hundreds of years ago they can be considered as both depending on age. Students will be able to
define Dogu dolls and at least two different time periods in Japanese history. Students will also be able
to successfully present an oral report alongside a PowerPoint presentation. The ultimate goal of the
lesson is for students to understand the differences and similarities of works of Art and objects of
Artifact from ancient Japan & Native America all the way into the modern age. The lesson is intended
for 12th grade students but certainly could be modified for other grades.