Native American Weaving Craft With Construction Paper

Apply caulk over the woven grasses to make an Indian basket waterproof.

Native Americans used many woven products as part of their everyday tool kit. From baskets that carried food to mats that insulated the floor of the tent, hut or cave, many tribes wove native grasses, wood strips, bark and vines into practical shapes and forms. Children can use construction paper to learn weaving techniques that Native American artisans still use today.

Place Mats

Draw a 1-inch margin on the long ends of a sheet of construction paper. Cut the sheet in 1-inch strips between the margins. Cut additional sheets of construction paper lengthwise into strips using a paper shredder. Weave various colors of the shredded construction paper through the slits in the mat foundation. Center the strips so they line up evenly. Fold the strips that end underneath the mat up over the edge of the mat and tuck it into the first slit, hiding the edges. When you finish with those strips, turn the mat over and repeat the process with the remaining strips.

Sitting Mat

Fold 9-inch-by-12-inch sheets of construction paper in half along the long sides and sharply crease the fold. Open the sheet and fold one side of the sheet to the middle fold line and then fold that section in half again to the fold line. Repeat the folds on the other half of the sheet and then fold the two sides together at the center fold line again. Repeat this until you have 20 folded sheets. Lay 12 of the folded strips side-by-side lengthwise on a flat surface and begin weaving folded strips perpendicular in between the lengthwise strips. Leave a 2-inch margin of unwoven length on all four sides. When your strips are interwoven, center the strips so the edges match. Fold the underneath strips as you did in section 1 and then turn the mat and fold the edges on the other side.

Woven Basket

Cut a 5-inch diameter circle out of construction paper. Glue strips of construction paper you shredded in a paper shredder to the topside of the circle. Glue a 5-inch diameter circle on top of the circle with the glued strips of paper and allow the glue to dry. Weave strips of shredded construction paper perpendicular to the strips around the edge of the circle, overlapped the ends about 1 inch to keep the strips tucked into place. When the top of your basket is 1 inch from the ends of the vertical strips, fold the ends under as in section 1 to secure the edge of the basket.

Indian Drum

Glue 1-inch strips of construction paper around the top and bottom edge of a small oatmeal box. Weave strips of construction paper horizontally around the box, tucking the end around the closest strip that ends under the horizontal strip. Draw patterns on the woven box and glue a solid circle to the top edge. To make a shaker box instead, use the same process, but add sand or small pebbles inside the box before you seal it.

References

• Native-Languages.org: Native American Rugs, Blankets, and Quilts
• Native-Languages.org: American Indian Baskets