CRAFTING A TALE OF ECOLOGY

In this lesson, students will view the Preston Singletary segment from the NATURE episode. Students will hear from the artist, the team of assistants that help with his glasswork, and independent curator Miranda Belarde-Lewis, who is curating a show of Singletary’s work. The program features the Tlingit origin story Raven and the Box of Daylight as well as information about traditional Tlingit art, customs, and philosophy

After viewing the episode, students will discuss Singletary’s work and the Tlingit people’s connections to the natural world. Students will also examine the ecology of art materials. In the studio portion of the lesson, students will choose a traditional tale and rewrite it as an ecological fable. Students will share the tale by crafting a diorama that includes found materials.

Grade level: 9-12

Episode: NATURE