IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK

WHAT ANIMAL DO YOU

IDENTIFY WITH? WHY?
MAKE A LIST OF TRAITS
THAT ARE ASSOCIATED
WITH YOUR ANIMAL.

SPIRIT ANIMALS

ENDURING UNDERSTANDING
Students will understand that
All cultures are inspired by the animal world to create
meaningful works of art.
Looking at the way other cultures communicated can lead to
respect, understanding, and appreciation of self and of others.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will analyze symbolic animal imagery from various
cultures.
Students will consider how artistic choices involve imagery and
composition can affect the appearance of their spirit animal.
Students will demonstrate their creativity by creating spirit
animal stencils for the cover of their sketchbook.

Animals in Art
Artists frequently use
animals as subject matter in
their art.
Through time animals have
appeared in paintings,
sculptures, and prints.
Animals are also symbolic.
Many cultures through the
ages have observed specific
animals as in place of gods,
power, the supernatural, and
in the cases of Native
Americans, used in names.

EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS
Animals were used in Ancient
Egyptian religious art to
illustrate characteristics of the
gods. For example, Horus was
depicted as a falcon because he
was believed to have falcon-like
qualities. Anubis was a wolfheaded god known as the
protector of the dead and
mummification.
Several animals might depict
one god, thereby revealing
different aspects of their
character. For example, Thoth
was shown as both a baboon
and an ibis.

ABORIGINAL ANIMAL BARK

PAINTINGS
Traditional aboriginal art
No written language, so used
art to share information and
dream time through art.
Religious and ceremonial
aspects of life
Storytelling
Styles different by region

NATIVE AMERICAN TOTEMS

The concept of the spirit animal
comes most directly from Native
American spirituality.
Various tribes and cultures believe
that the Spirit Animal (totem
animal) represents a person or a
clan.
The animal acts as a guide or
protector.
Certain characteristics or traits of
the animal.

BROTHER BEAR

YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL

What is your Spirit Animal?
Have you ever had a strange encounter with an animal?
Come across the same animal over and over again?
Have re-occurring dreams with the same animal?
There are different ways to figure out your spirit animal, but you need
to have an open mind.
Pay attention to recurrent appearances of a particular animal in your life.
Look in nature and observe around you. Pay attention to animals and their
behavior.
Recognize the wisdom and intelligence of animals

SPIRIT ANIMAL QUIZ

http://www.spiritanimal.info/spirit-a
nimal-quiz/

IN YOUR SKETCHBOOK
Create a page(s) about
Personal animal with associated characteristics or traits
Spirit animal quiz animal with traits
Choose either your personal animal or the quiz animal, and draw 2
sketches of that animal from different views

Exemplars:

SKETCHBOOK RESEARCH
1. Research background information on how
animals are used in the art of ancient Egypt,
Native Americans, and Aboriginal art.
2. Compare and contrast the art of each culture.
3. Include an image of each type of art.
Answers to the following questions should also be
included in your research.
Why do you think Egyptians used animal and figural
forms to create their hieroglyphic alphabet.
How and why do Australian Aboriginals used animal
or figural imagery to communicate? What was this
art used for?
What can we learn from Native American art

AUSTRALI
AN
ABORIGIN
AL ART

ABORIGINAL ART LINKS

http://www.japingka.com.au/articles/facts-about-aboriginal-art
/
https://
www.kateowengallery.com/page/10-Facts-About-Aboriginal-Art
.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australian_art
http://www.amazingandweird.com/facts/15-interesting-facts-ab
original-art
/

Egyptian
Hieroglyphics

EGYPTIAN ANIMAL ART &

HIEROGLYPIC LINKS
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/AnimalMummification.html
http://
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/animal_gallery.shtml
http://discoveringegypt.com/egyptian-hieroglyphic-writing/
http://www.landofpyramids.org/egyptian-hieroglyphics.htm

Native
American

NATIVE AMERICAN ANIMAL TOTEM

LINKS
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/native-american-animal-symbols.html
http://
www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-symbols/animal-symbo
ls.htm
http://shop.slcc.ca/node/5
http://www.indians.org/articles/native-american-art.html

COMPARE & CONTRAST