Art and culture at NAEC.

Photo: Students in Ms. Buck’s Grade 5/6 class at North Addington Education Centre  are studying Ancient Egyptian and Native Canadian Cultures.

Students in Ms. Buck’s Grade 5/6 class at North Addington Education Centre combined Art with Social Studies last week. The Grade 5 students are studying Ancient Egyptian culture, while the Grade 6 students are studying Native Canadian Culture.

In order to feel connected to the cultures they are studying, students made tablets to represent themselves. The Grade 5 students carved their names into clay tablets, using hieroglyphics (a picture-based alphabet used by ancient Egyptians). The Grade 6 students carved Power Animals into their tablets.

Grade 5 students prepared by looking at the hieroglyphic alphabet and each practiced writing his or her name, using the pictures. Students used a piece of paper the size of their clay tablet, for planning purposes. Names are written in a vertical pattern, with a little drawing of a man or woman to indicate the gender of the person.

Grade 6 students prepared by reviewing Power Animals in native culture and the traits associated with certain animals, such as Coyote, who is associated with playing tricks. Students were to choose the animal they most identified with, or make one up to convey their personality.

After students had finished their carving, the tablets were allowed to dry and then were fired in the kiln on the Secondary side of the school.

The students then applied glaze to their tablets. They could choose one color, or a variety of colors. The tablets were then fired again in the kiln, and came out looking shiny and colorful. Even though the students were given specific guidelines, each tablet is unique, because it reflects the personality of the student.

Principal Angela Salmond was impressed with the results. “It is good to see the elementary and secondary teachers working together, and it also shows the students that no subject exists on its own. It is possible, and fun, to do cross-curricular activities,” she said.