Kente Cloth Weaving Game
Ready to teach a Black History Month art activity that’ll keep elementary art kids engaged? This kente cloth art project will boost confidence and creativity. Kids will be excited to learn how to craft a paper weaving. Moreover, they’ll enjoy learning to decode symbolic kente cloth colors!
And, it’ll help time-starved teachers like you create art lesson plans based on the history of Ghana.
During this weaving art project, your class will learn the different ways men and women wear kente cloth. Use it to discuss art vocabulary such as warp, weft, and loom as well as pattern and repetition in visual arts. Students will create a paper weaving patterns from kente using the step-by-step guide and PowerPoint.
Plan lessons for students about Black art history and art appreciation in a way that excites them. Finally feel confident in your art curriculum and be organized and prepared to teach art!
What’s Included
Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring for kids. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesn’t have to be a snoozer, though!
I’ve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this kente cloth art lesson. All will engage kids to create! Choose which way works best for your classes:
- Roll a dice game to add randomness to your student’s artwork
- “You Pick” idea worksheet for kids to choose their own elements
- Digital spinner wheels, so kids can randomly pick elements and you can integrate technology in the art room
- Printable dice template in case you have no dice
- Step-by-step picture directions to guide students through the art process
- Drawing practice worksheet, for kids who want to sketch out their ideas
- History of Kente Cloth worksheet about the folklore behind weaving, what kente is made from, and what the colors symbolize
- How To Paper Weaving handout, which explains how to make a paper loom and begin weaving
- Paper Weaving Pattern worksheet, so students can design the layout of their art project
- “Big Ideas” reflection worksheet where students write about their art process
- Art rubric, a self-assessment tool to get students thinking about things like craftsmanship and art project goals
- 8 “I CAN” Statements aligned to the Studio Habits of Mind to use during instruction or post on your bulletin board
- 4 Art exit tickets with quick, thought-provoking prompts
- Art history coloring pages to keep kids inspired by the beauty of kente cloth art designs outside of the art room
Ways to Use This Kente Cloth Paper Weaving Art Lesson for Black History Month
This art project is flexible and can be used in many ways throughout your art room and beyond. It’s great for maternity or emergency art sub plans, early finisher activities, and even for virtual art class or an after-school art club.
You Will Receive
- 1 Non-Editable Printable PDF (Kente Cloth Paper Weaving Art Lesson)
- 1 Non-Editable PowerPoint
- 5 Digital Spinner Videos (downloadable, and links to them on Google Slides and YouTube)
- Paperless Google Drive Digital Resource
Why You’ll Love It
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My students loved viewing the designs, and having printed Kente Cloth imagery right at their tables, to add to their weaving. The finished weavings were beautiful, and they left really proud of what they accomplished! Having these designs also helped ME, because the quick finishers had a challenge, and students needing more support in the weaving aspect of this art lesson were able to have my attention.
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This was hands down my favorite activity for my 6th grade students. I found some great videos that a went along with the history of the Kente. My students had a lot of fun making them a wanted to do more than one. We ended up putting all 64 together to make a large wall hanging which all the teachers loved.
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I used this as a resource for designs when my 5th graders were working on a Kente cloth paper weaving. We learned about Kente cloth, patterns, design, the history and then worked on the weaving. Students were engaged and did a great job! thank you!
Terms of Use
Please refer to my complete terms of use prior to purchasing.
wendy hardgrave –
We traveled to Africa and this was the kids art project .. it went perfect and the kids were amazed of how it turned out
Jeannie D. –
I love this activity and use it every year! It is engaging and gives an opportunity to have meaningful discussion surrounding cultural practices. The students love being hands-on and creating the piece.
The Slate Board (Teacher-Author) –
My students are doing art from each continent in Art Class. I used this with my 7th grade students and they created the Kente Cloth as the background for their African animal drawing/watercolor. The information provided was thorough, easy to read, perfect for explaining to the kids and helping them. The patterns and grid instructions saved me so much time from trying to create something on my own. Well worth the purchase price!
Alicia W. –
This resource is great! Very informative! Students loved answering the questions!
Vona Andrea A. –
I used this resource for my arts and crafts club. My students love it!
Studio B Teaching Resources (Teacher-Author) –
This is a wonderful resource that I’ve used successfully several times. I love that it give students choices while supporting them with a framework for success. The results were gorgeous!
Bailey M. –
My students loved this activity! It was both informative and creative!
miselaineious (Teacher-Author) –
I LOVED this addition to our Black History resources. My students are finishing these up now and they look incredible. What a wonderful opportunity to learn about other cultural art!
Erin P. –
This is a wonderful resource. It was perfect for the needs of my classroom. Thanks so much!
Suzanna T. –
Good instructions, fun game. My kids enjoyed weaving and decorating their mats.
Bilane O. –
Used this as an extension to my world art unit! Thanks!
tracy M. –
My students loved this activity!
SquareDoodles (Teacher-Author) –
This was hands down my favorite activity for my 6th grade students. I found some great videos that a went along with the history of the Kente. My students had a lot of fun making them a wanted to do more than one. We ended up putting all 64 together to make a large wall hanging which all the teachers loved.
OWL Adventures (Teacher-Author) –
My kids LOVED this art activity! Thank you for creating!
Lauren M. –
We used this as an introduction to learning about West African myths and folktales. This was a great way to introduce students to adinkra and build background knowledge before reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky.
Miss B –
Students loved this thank you!
ResourcED (Teacher-Author) –
I used this for a Grade 2/3 art experience–the standards cited didn’t apply as I’m in Canada (Ontario), so it was mainly intended for Visual Art with an equity inclusion for Black History Month. We first watched a video to introduce what kente was and what the colours each meant and then followed up with this resource. It really helped to have the different patterns broken down and to have different artistic entry-points for students who could go with one or two patterns, or include more if they were more artistically inclined. A few definitely struggled with the fine motor aspect of the weaving: I do not think or really know if this resource could be changed in any way to support those types of learners but we did get through either way (this was a case, too, where this art activity helped me see some of those struggles that I could then look into for whether they also impacted, for example, math or language, for those same students). It is an in-depth but easy-to-implement resource which produced great results! It is easily a resource that I could see being used for the same grades I did but higher grades as well.
Abby W. –
Love this resource!
abbyescart (Teacher-Author) –
This resource was helpful for myself for my students as they learned how to draw different Kente designs. We used this resource with paper weaving.
jesse B. –
My students love these art games,
Joanna J. –
Thank you
The Sunshines Nook (Teacher-Author) –
I loved this! Very unique and fun to do!
Heather R. –
great
Shannon Monson –
I used this as a resource for designs when my 5th graders were working on a Kente cloth paper weaving. We learned about Kente cloth, patterns, design, the history and then worked on the weaving. Students were engaged and did a great job! thank you!
Jehan B. –
My students were so engaged completing this activity!
Sue R. –
Great resource
Glenda D. –
We used this resource as an additional activity with Google’s Wa:We focus. The students already knew how to paper weave, but this enhanced an early learning activity and brought it to a middle school level.
Tammy W. –
My students and I loved this project and they looked amazing outside our door.
lilit K. –
My students loved using this resource for their art project!
Virtually There (Teacher-Author) –
My students loved viewing the designs, and having printed Kente Cloth imagery right at their tables, to add to their weaving. The finished weavings were beautiful, and they left really proud of what they accomplished! Having these designs also helped ME, because the quick finishers had a challenge, and students needing more support in the weaving aspect of this art lesson were able to have my attention.
Combined Class Creations (Teacher-Author) –
Students really enjoyed this art project and the lessons on Kente Cloth. Thank you!
Marisa H. –
My 2nd graders loved this!
Robyn’s Nest (Teacher-Author) –
My art students loved seeing the visuals for weaving. The Kente cloth designs were great, my students love choosing from all the options.
Jamie G. –
Loved it!
Staci J. –
This resource was perfect for my class! Myself and my students found it very useful!
Susan N. –
My stdents loved using this resource. They could pick how complicated to make there designs.
Elaine Jelbert (Teacher-Author) –
Loved it
Charlotte Campbell –
Amazing resource! My students loved this activity and they turned out great!
Elizabeth Bailey –
Students enjoyed this!
Jennifer Simmons –
Thank you, perfect addition to Black History Month.
Ashley C. –
Even with my older 7th-grade students, everyone was thoroughly engaged. Used at the end of our Medieval West Africa unit and was so pleased with the quality of artwork my students produced. Had several students ask for extra supplies to take home so they could make another one with their younger siblings. Win!
Hedgehog Reader (Teacher-Author) –
Such a great activity and my gifted 5th graders loved it. Thank you!
Susan M. –
Using this lesson currently for a virtual lesson on Black History Month
Cara London –
I used this is an art project for my TOC when I was absent. I absolutely love the way they turned out.
Krystin H. –
Loved the PowerPoint that came with the purchase. Helped the kids visually understand how to make the project. We loved our end results!
Melissa T. –
Students loved creating their Kente cloth weaving. Directions were easy to follow. Student work came out great.
Cool Teacher Favorites (Teacher-Author) –
Love it
Menet M. –
We used this for a Black History Month STEM Day. We incorporated coding with the Kente cloth weaving.
Stacy C. –
This was a wonderful activity to do with our 3rd grade buddies for African American parent Day
Alyson G. –
Very thorough resource! I used this with my first grade class and they turned out terrific!
Mellissa Winzenrith –
Wonderful resource!
Kristen E. –
Great resource!