Lesson 4 (K-4): Beads, beads, beads

Objective: To help students become familiar with the concepts of symmetry and design which are important elements in the beadwork of traditional Cambodian costumes and medallions.

Materials needed

• Long and short grain rice (dyed different colors if preferred), split peas, lentils, and other small, dried grains, or other "beadlike" materials such as tissue paper balls, small plastic beads, etc.
• Pattern sheet
• Poster board/foam core
• Glue and scissors
• Yarn for the medallions

Procedure

Explain to children that they will be making medallions using patterns that Chamroeun uses. First distribute the reading about the medallion to the students. Show them the picture from the cover of the book which shows the medallion.

Distribute the medallion patterns and one small piece of posterboard/foam core to each child. Have the children glue the medallion pieces on to the poster board. Then have the children cut around the medallion pieces. (Note: For younger children, the edges will be very difficult to cut, so they may want to cut around the outside and then outline the edges in black felt tip pens rather than cutting them.)

Have the children glue the pieces on top of each other in the order of the numbers on the pattern sheet (1 should be on the bottom and 5 on the top)

Explain the concept of symmetry to children. Explain that their medallion will need to be symmetrical - that all the beads they will be using need to be balanced.

Distribute the rice, peas, lentils or other bead materials you choose to the children. Have them work at gluing the pieces onto their medallions in symmetrical patterns.

Once the glue is dried, the teacher can punch a hole in each medallion piece and run a string through it.

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