Ethopia's Timkat

 When I was a classroom teacher I loved to teach Christmas Around the World. My intern teacher back in Hardee County was my inspiration. She had an outline of different countries she taught her Kindergartners. I took her outline and created a whole unit for second grade during my master classes at Warner University. One of the books I used as reference, Merry Christmas Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach, had art projects to do during Christmas for other countries. I decided to take this opportunity to teach a little Social Studies in art. I created a PowerPoint of various information such as, the Christmas greeting in Ethiopia, Melkm Ganna pronounced MEL-calm GEH-nuh and the dates they celebrated Jesus's birth. Along with the information were wonderful pictures I found on the Internet of actual Timkat celebrations. During this celebration the priest carry the scrolls of the 10 Commandments to the tents were people are praying. To ensure the scrolls are not ruined while they travel the priest carry umbrellas decorated with gold. The 3rd graders were creating and decorating their own umbrella.
Materials Needed for 1st Session:
9 x 12 colored construction paper (any color)
long strip of yellow construction paper
scissors
drawing utensil
glue
gold and bronze paint
small paint brushes

Step One: students choose their own color of 9 x 12 construction paper for the umbrella.

Step Two: The folded the paper in half horizontally. Holding the folded side in their hand (to ensure they don't cut it in half) they drew a curve line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Then at the bottom right they drew three humps to the bottom left corner.

Step Three: They held the folded side in their hand and cut on the lines they drew. Open up to see an umbrella.

Step Four: Fold the long strip of yellow paper and half. Holding the folded side cut up the strip horizontally to make tassels. Open up the strip and glue to the bottom of the opened up umbrella. Trim edges to make sure it isn't seen on the sides of the umbrella.

Step Five: Flip the umbrella and paint different designs using the gold paints. My students get to be creative with this part. I only tell them I still want to see the background color through the design. Place umbrella on drying rack till next class.

Materials for 2nd Session:

12 x 18 colored construction paper

half a sheet of yellow construction paper (vertically)

glue

Step One: Student will use the yellow half piece to cut out the umbrellas handle. I had the students draw a large candy cane for the handle. Cut out the handle.

Step Two: Glue the handle onto the background paper then glue the umbrella on top of the handle.

Stay tuned for the finished products!