Little Book of Projects by Writers' Exchange

Little Book Of Projects A DIVISION 8 GALLERY GUIDE I N S P I R E D BY T R A D I T I O N A L F I R ST N AT I O N S WAY S O F L I F E

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Writers’ Exchange Thi s bo o k w a s creat e d b y D i vi s io n 8 , M s . Ka ren ’s g ra d e 4 / 5 st u d en t s, at St rat h co n a E l e me n t a r y in t h e sp rin g of 2 0 1 4 . The Wr i ter s ’ E xch a n g e ma ke s lit e ra cy exc it i n g a n d a ccessib le f or in n er-cit y kid s thro ugh f re e me n t o r in g a n d c reat ive w r it i n g p roj ect s like t his cha p b ook. All Wr i ter s' Exc h a n g e p ro g ra ms a re fre e fo r t h e child ren a n d f a m ilies we serv e, so we c o ul d no t ex is t w it h o u t t h e s u p p o r t o f g e nerou s d on ors, in clu d in g Bern a rd Ma c Leo d, M e g a n A b b o tt , M a r i ly M ea r n s , t h e Va n cou v er Fou n d at ion , Na n cy and Ted Ma i t l a n d , T E LUS , Co a s t Ca p i t a l S a vi n g s Cred it U n ion , t he Cen t ra l Cit y Fo undati o n , L in d s a y M ea r n s , C l a u d i a Ca s p er a n d Ja m es Griff in , The H om e Depot Ca n a d a Fo u n d at i o n a n d t h e H a m b er Fou n d at ion . Tha n k y ou . A nd thank y o u t o t h e a m a z i n g vo l u n t e e r m e n tors who work wit h t he kid s in a ll Wr i ter s’ E xch a n g e p ro g ra ms s o t h at ea c h c hild ca n su cceed t o t he b est of h i s o r h e r a b i lit y. Wr i t e r s ’ E xc h a n g e me n t o r s : A a ro n , A ma n d a , Christ in e, Elea n or, G in n y, J e n n i fe r, J o e , Kyla , S u sa n P h o t o s : J o e S a le s , jo e sa les. ca S p e cia l t h a n ks t o : Kw ia a hwa h Jon es a n d t h e Bill Re i d G a lle r y o f N ort hwest Coa st Art E d it o r ia l s u p p o r t : An d ie D e s ig n a n d l a yo u t : Br itt a n y Ba x t e r, sp a rklea n d sp a rkle. co Th e Wr it e r s ’ E xc h a n g e 8 8 1 E a s t H a s t in g s , Va n c o u v er, BC V6 A 1 R 8 To rea d m o re g reat s t u d e n t w r i t i n g , vi sit v anc o uv e r W E . c o m.

As an author of a W riters, Exchange book, you are invited to sign up for our FREE after-school and summer programs at , The Writers Exchange home base: 881 East Hastings Street. We run programs for kids in grades 1 to 3, 4 to 7, and 8 to 12. Ask your teacher for a signup sheet, go to vancouverWE.com or call Jennifer at 604-428-8228 for more information.

Co p yr i g h t © 2 0 1 4 Th e Wr it ers’ Excha n g e

Wr it e r s ’ E xc h a n g e i n - s c h o o l p ro je ct s a re m a d e p ossib le by the Va n co u ve r Fo u n d at io n a n d Co a s t Ca p it a l S a v in g s Cred it U n ion .

Pr i n t i n g fo r t h i s c h a p b o o k w a s g e n e ro u sly d on at ed b y H em lock.

The Wr it e r s ’ E xc h a n g e i s a p ro je ct o f Tid e s Ca n a d a In it iat iv es S ociet y.

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INTRODUCTION

The class of Division 8 at Strathcona Elementary has made an exhibition guide about the trad itional ways of life of First Nations people across the regions of North America.

The students went on a field trip to the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver and saw some of his art. The students researched traditional First Nations objects.

Then all the students picked out one thing, from one region, to make into a model. After the models were finished, the students wrote descriptions of these models.

TABLE OF CONTENTS L I T T LE PROJ E CTS T H E H OUS E . LI LI T H E F R OZ E N ANIMAL . ANGELA DR I LL B OW . M OYA S N O W KN I F E . ALVIN MOCCAS I N . KI KI S U B A R CT I C CLOTHING . L EAH T H E AWE S OM E BOW AND FEATHER ARROW . J OHN N Y GA RD E N B OW AND STICKY ARROW . OSCAR B EACH CLA M . ISABEL B L AN KE T . LUCIA MR. S PE AR . WINSTON S OAPB E RR I E S BEFORE AND AFTER . TABIT HA T H E M I G H T Y S A LMON! . CYNTHIA S A L M ON . B E N JAMIN T H E D R E S S OF THE P L ATEAU . SASK IA FR AN CI S 'S AWESOME P IECE OF ART . FRAN C I S R A F T . E LI JA H S WE AT LOD G E . LINDA NOB LE E AG LE S EATED ON REFL ECTED OC E AN . ZO E

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The House .

Lili

COTTON BA LLS, GLUE, P O P S I CL E ST I CKS 2014

Aboriginal people from the Arctic region trad itionally used igloos for shelter. I decided to make an igloo because I chose it at random. The coolest thing I learned about igloos is that they are made of snow and they do not take

long to make. They are not permanent homes. I made it by choosing what materials to use first: popsicle sticks and cotton balls. Then I cut the popsicle sticks. Then I glued the sticks together at the corners. Then I glued the popsicle

sticks together, and then I glued on the cotton balls. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel happy about looking at stuff made of cotton balls. My favourite thing about my piece is that it is an igloo.

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The Frozen Animal .

Angela

THI CK BLUE PA PER, BLU E T I S S U E PA P ER, ST YRO F OA M B A L L S , S C R A P PA P E R , GLUE , D OUBLE-SIDED TA PE, P O P S I CLE ST I CKS , P O M-P O M, ST I C K S , B O B B L E E Y E S 2014

Aboriginal people from the Inuit region trad itionally used carved objects like this for gifts and decoration. I decided to make it because it looked cool. I found out that it was a bit tricky to make. First, I cut the blue paper. I rolled it up, glued and taped it. After I taped the two styrofoam balls, I used blue tissue paper to wrap them. Second, I wrapped the blue paper with tissue paper. Then, I made the neck with popsicle sticks,

and I taped the popsicle sticks together. After, I made another neck out of the popsicle sticks, and then I wrapped it with blue tissue paper. Third, I taped the necks to the blue paper—one at the top and one at the bottom. Then, I used the two styrofoam balls and taped them onto the necks. After that, I stuffed blue tissue paper between the two necks. On the other side of the blue paper, I stuffed scrap paper inside, and then I

glued tissue paper and taped it so it wouldn’t show. Fourth, I taped and glued the pom-pom to the side of the blue paper that didn’t have the head. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel good and learn that the Inuit people carved animals with ice. I also want them to feel freezing. My favourite thing about my piece is that it is an animal. My second favourite thing about my piece is that it makes me feel proud.

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Drill Bow .

Moya

STICKS, HOT GLUE, STR I NG , P LA ST I CI NE, TO OT HP I CK 2014

Aboriginal people from the Inuit region trad itionally used drill bows for making holes. I decided to make it because it shows the importance of tools for the Inuit. The coolest thin g I found out about the drill bow is that you can use your mouth to

hold the drill bit. I made the tool by getting a stick, and then I wrapped string around it and put some hot glue on it to make it stick. Then I got plasticine and wrapped it around the middle. Then I got another stick and broke it in half and then glued a toothpick to the

top of it. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel like they understand how much the Inuit valued self-sufficiency. My favourite thing about my piece is that it can actually be used.

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Snow Knife .

Alvin

PLAST ICINE, DRIFT W O O D, ST RI NG , COT TO N, H OT G LU E 2014

Aboriginal people from the Inuit region trad itionally used snow knives for making igloos and snow holes. I decided to make a snow knife because it looked cool for making homes and it is an important tool. The coolest thing I found out about the snow knife

is that it can be used to make a snow house every single day. I made it by finding driftwood and molding plasticine onto the driftwood. Then I got string, and wrapped the string around the stick and glued it. Then I got cotton and glued it on the bottom of the driftwood.

When people look at my piece, I want them to feel amazed at how to make igloos. I want to show them how the Inuit survived in the cold of the Arctic. My favourite thing about my piece is that it is an important tool.

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Moccasin .

Kiki

FABRIC, GLUE, FUR 2014

Aboriginal people from the Inuit region trad itionally used moccasins for footwear. I decided to make a moccasin because I wanted to know how to make them, and I thought that it looked fun to make. The coolest thin g I found out about moccasins is the way you make them, and also how you make them

with animal fur and animal skin. I made my moccasins by first getting the fabric, and then deciding how I was going to make them and what other materials I would probably need. Second, I thought about what size I was going to make the moccasins. Third, I started cutting the fabric and putting them together with glue.

Fourth, I decided to glue white fur around the moccasins. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel that I worked really hard on it, and I want them to know what the Inuit wore on their feet. My favourite things about my piece are what kind of shape I made it into and the white fur that I put around the moccasins.

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Subarctic

Clothing .

Leah

POSTER PA PER, PENCI L CR AYO NS , MA R KE RS , CR AYO NS , P E N C I L 2014

Aboriginal people from the Subarctic region trad itionally used clothing for dressing up warm and for sun dances (a traditional dance around fire). I made this piece because I love drawing, and I wanted to know more about what Subarctic people wore. The coolest thing that I found out about the clothing is that the mitt ens and moccasins were made out of all kinds of animals, and the parkas had extra space

for women to put their children in. I made my piece by getting poster paper and then grabbing all my pencil crayons, markers, the Subarc tic book, and my pencil and eraser. Then, I opened up my book and found the clothing page. After that, I decided to draw the mittens first. Then, I sketched the mitten out and outlined it. After, I drew the big designs and outlined those too. Then, I coloured it all in with crayons and pencil

crayons. After, I did all the little details and outlined it again with a fine liner. Then, for the small details, I used my markers. When I was almost done, I coloured the background of the mittens a peachy colour. In the end, I erased the pencil sketches. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel excited to read and look at my piece. My favourite things about making my piece were drawing it, colouring it and reading the books.

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The Awesome Bow and Feather Arrow . Johnny B OW: HOT GLUE, PLA ST I CI NE , G A R D EN W I R E , TA P E , ST I C K FEATHER A RROWS: STI CKS , F EAT HERS , TA P E , HOT G LU E 2014

Aboriginal people from the Cree region trad itionally used this awesome bow and feathered arrow for killing (it can hurt you), and shooting (it goes so far) animals like rabbit, beaver, musk ox, wolverine and g rey wolves. It is awesome! I decided to make it because it is cool and it is a weapon. The coolest

thing I found out while making my piece is that it can shoot far, and that the tip of the hot glue gun hurts! I made it by getting a stick and bending it back a bit. Then I got garden wire and wrapped the wire around the stic k. Then I put hot glue and plasticine on the tip of the stick. For the arrow, I got four sticks and four

pieces of tape and four feathers. Then I used hot glue and put the feathers on each stick (not the sharp side of the stick), and then wrapped tape on the hot glue. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel happy. My favourite thing about my piece is that it can shoot (I did not shoot people, just stuff ).

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Garden Bow and Sticky Arrow .

Oscar

STICKS, PLA ST ICINE, HOT G LU E , G A R D EN W I RE , D O U BLE -S I DE D TA P E 2014

Aboriginal people from the Cree region traditionally used bows for hunting and fighting. I decided to make it because I wanted to copy Johnny, and it ’s cool, awesome, deadly, scary and very cool—really the most cool weapon ever. I learned that you can kill things with it and shoot animals without them noticing. Also, you can add poison to the arrow to make the animal sleep and not run away after it ’s been shot. I made it by tying garden wire to a stick and then reinforcing it with hot glue, plasticine and tape. Nailed it! When people look at my piece, I want them to feel scared, and awesome about the history of the tool. My favourite thing about my piece is the garden wire. It ’s very reinforced and a good bow that shoots very well (80% accuracy).

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Beach Clam .

Isabel

CLAY (BLUE, W HIT E, GRE Y) , G LI T T ER, TO OT HP I CK, CA R DB OA R D 2014

Aboriginal people from the Northwest Coast region traditionally used beach clams for food and diet. I decided to make this clam because I wanted to have fun with art, and also because I like going to the beach. The coolest thing about

making it was using the clay. First, I had to cut out the cardboard and the fabric tape, and then I spread the clay all over the board so it looked like water. Next, I used some glitter. After that, I got some help from a friend. While she was helping

me make some oysters, I made some clams. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel amazed. My favourite thing about my piece is that I had a lot of fun making it.

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Blanket .

Lucia

B UTTONS, FELT CLOT H 2014

Aboriginal people from the Tlingit region trad itionally used blankets like this for ceremonies and celebrations. I decided to make it because I like the detail and decoration, and it is cool to make my own decoration.

The coolest thing I found out about the blanket is that it had more than one use. First, I folded the cloth, then I thought about the person who I saw wearing it, then I glued the buttons into a pattern on the back, and then I flipped it over and

did the same on the front side. Then I waited for it to dry well. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel happy about art. My favourite thing about my piece is the decoration.

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M R. SpeaR .

Winston

CLAY, BROW N PA PER, P LA ST I C T U BE, G LU E , F EAT HERS 2014

Aboriginal people from the Northwest Coast region traditionally used spears for hunting. They would hunt deer, bear, fish, rabbit, birds and seal. I decided to make it because it seemed interesting. The coolest thin g I found out about my spear was that it was easy to make. First I covered the tube with brown paper. Then I glued the brown paper on to the tube. Then I shaped the clay like a cone and I put the clay on top of the tube. Then I put feathers in the middle. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel that I did a good job. My teacher never knew that they killed animals using a spear with feathers. My favourite thing about my piece is that it is a weapon and you can kill stuff with it.

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Soapberries Before and After . Tabitha PAINT, STY ROFOA M, P LA ST I C BO W LS , PA P ER L E AV E S , TO OT H P I C K S 2014

Aboriginal people from the Salish region trad itionally used soapberries for food. I decided to make them because I had just learned about them and I wanted to try soapberries the first time I saw them. The coolest thing I

learned about soapberries is how to make soapberry ice cream. I made soapberries by taking the styrofoam balls and connecting them with toothpicks. Then I put leaves through the toothpicks and then painted it all pink.

I wanted to make it red, but red and white is pink. I wanted to make two red bowls of soapberries and soapberry ice cream. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel happy and hungry, and I want their mouths to water.

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The Mighty Salmon! .

Cynthia

C LAY, SMA LL ST ICK 2014

Aboriginal people traditionally used salmon for food, and they also used the bones for spearheads and knife tips. I decided to make this piece because I love food, and I was interested that they used so much of the salmon. The coolest thing I found out about

the salmon is that they made weapons out of the bones. I made this piece by getting the clay and softening it. Then I drew a picture of a fish to get the image in my mind. After, I made the clay into a fish shape. Near the end, I made designs on the fish. I used a small

stick to make the designs, and I wanted the designs to look like scales, eyes and gills. Finally, I was done. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel amazed by my artwork. My favourite thing about my artwork is the designs (gills, eyes and scales).

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salmon .

Benjamin

RED A ND BLACK CLAY, ST I CK 2014

Aboriginal people from the Northwest Coast region traditionally used salmon for food. I de cided to make this salmon because it made me hungry, and I like to eat fish and Northwest

Coast people liked to eat it too. The coolest thing I learned about the salmon is that its mouth is very big. I made it by making the top of the mouth first, and then I made the bottom. Lucia helped me

make the eyes. I stuck all of the things on the face by rubbing them into the clay. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel amazed. My favourite thing about my piece is the mouth.

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The Dress of the Plateau .

Saskia

HOT GLUE, PA PER, FA KE F LO W ERS 2014

Aboriginal people from the Plateau region trad itionally used dresses like this for everyday wearing. I wanted to make it because I saw the dress and I really liked it. The coolest thing I learned about the dress is that people originally made this dress by hand. I made it by getting a hard piece of paper and then cutting out a dress shape. Then I got a bunch of fake flowers and used a hot glue gun to glue them on. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel happy! My favourite thing about my piece is the flowers.

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' Francis s Awesome Piece of Art .

Francis

CLAY, ST ICKS 2014

Aboriginal people from the Northwest Coast region traditionally used canoes and masks for t ransportation and ceremonies. I decid ed to make this piece because I like masks. The coolest thin g I found out about the masks is that they

were made with my favourite colours: pink, yellow, red, black. And also, with the masks, you can turn into an animal. I made my piece by warming up the clay in my hands. Then I put it all together into a mask shape. Then I made a

canoe by warming the clay and carving it into little parts. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel excited and proud. My favourite thing about my piece was making it.

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Raft .

Elijah

C LAY, POPSICLE ST ICK S , BO BBLE EYE S 2014

Aboriginal people from the Mohave Southwest region traditionally used rafts for catching fish and going for a ride. I decided to make it because it was easy to make and it looked cool. I made it by

creating the water, and then I placed the popsicle sticks down flat. Next I added some bobble eyes to my guy, and used some black clay for hair. Then I made the paddle and used the red clay for the

bottom. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel awesome and proud of me. My favourite thing about my piece is the guy on the raft because it makes it more real.

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Sweat Lodge .

Linda

CLOT H, HOT GLUE, STY R O F OA M BA LL S , P LA ST I CI NE, P E B B L E S , P O ST E R B OA R D 2014

Aboriginal people from the Miâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;kmaq region trad itionally used a sweat lodge for praying and singing. It was for ceremonies and spiritual stuff. They sat around the fire pit, and prayed and sweat. I decided to make this sweat lodge because it is cool and interesting. The coolest thing I found out about the sweat lodge is that they used clothing

and blankets to cover the willow branches, and also that the door always faced east! I made my sweat lodge by first gluing styrofoam balls into a dome shape. Second, I glued cloth onto the styrofoam balls, and grabbed poster board and glued the sweat lodge onto the poster board. Third, I glued rocks onto the board and

made plasticine rocks and water. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel that it is interesting, and that they want to go inside the sweat lodge. My favourite thing about my piece is that I got to build it and use all the interesting materials that Jennifer brought for me.

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Noble Eagle Seated on Reflected Ocean .

Zoe

PLAST ICINE, BIG ROCKS , S MA LL R O CKS , BLU E S H I MME R Y GLUE , P O ST E R B OA R D 2014

Aboriginal people from Miâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;kmaq region honoured eagles for ceremonies. I decided to make it because Miâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;kmaq is my heritage and I love eagles. The coolest thing I found out is that eagle feathers are sacred because only people who are nice and not selfish can receive one. I made my eagle by rounding up black plasticine and making it into a teardrop shape. Then I made white plasticine into a smaller

teardrop shape. Then I put them together, and next I glue-gunned four rocks together. The next step was to make two black teardrops (the same size) and flatten them so that they looked like wings. Then, I stuck them where I thought wings should go. Then I cut randomly out of blue cardstoc k and put blue plasticine all over, making sure that it was bumpy. Then I put blue glitter on the blue plasticine. After all that

work, I put the eagle on the rocks and put the rocks on the ocean. Then I put little rocks all around the big rocks. Then I flattened the white piece of plasticine and put it on the bottom of the eagle. Then I made two small blocks out of black plasticine and added them on as eyes. When people look at my piece, I want them to feel awesome. My favourite thing about my piece is how the water looks real.

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Wr it e r s ’ E xc h a n g e i n - s c h o o l p ro je ct s a re m a d e p ossib le by the Va n co u ve r Fo u n d at io n a n d Co a s t Ca p it a l S a v in g s Cred it U n ion .

Pr i n t i n g fo r t h i s c h a p b o o k w a s g e n e ro u sly d on at ed b y H em lock.

The Wr it e r s ’ E xc h a n g e i s a p ro je ct o f Tid e s Ca n a d a In it iat iv es S ociet y.

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Little Book Of Projects A DIVISION 8 GALLERY GUIDE I N S P I R E D BY T R A D I T I O N A L F I R ST N AT I O N S WAY S O F L I F E

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