Corn-Husk Characters

1. Introduce students to the history of corn husk dolls. Native Americans began making them at the beginning of corn agriculture more than a thousand years ago. Virtually every part of an ear of corn was used: the kernels were eaten, the cobs could serve as scrubbing tools and fuel for smoking meat, the husks could be shredded and used as kindling or stuffing for pillows and mattresses, and remnants of the husks and the silk on the ear of corn could be fashioned into dolls. Authentic corn husk dolls do not have faces, and there are a number of traditional explanations for this.
2. To make a corn husk doll have students cut the seams of a brown paper lunch bag so it lies flat. They can draw lines on it with markers to approximate the look and texture of a corn husk and then use a damp paint brush to blend the colors a bit.
3. When it's dry ask students to cut the bag into several long and short pieces. Have them tie the long pieces in two places with yarn - one up high to create a head and one lower to create a waist. Then they can create the arms by tying the short pieces across the torso and use yarn to create wrists. Strips of construction paper or pieces of yarn can form the hair.

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

SS: Culture: Through experience, observation, and reflection, identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place.

Native American folklore has it that there are "three sisters" who sustain the three main agricultural crops: corn (maize), squash, and beans. Have students research some of the tales associated with these legends.

Encourage students to research symbols and rituals associated with Native Americans, such as an arrow, a bear, or a butterfly and use them in artwork.