Ndebele Houses Art Project
Ready to teach a Black History Month art activity thatāll keep elementary art kids engaged? This Ndebele Houses art project will boost confidence and creativity. Kids will be amazed by their painted house designs and hidden meaning of the chosen colors. Moreover, theyāll enjoy making their own Ndebele house craft!
And, itāll help time-starved teachers like you create art lesson plans based on the Southern Ndebele.Ā
During this art project, your class will discuss the Ndebele traditions including brightly colored mural paintings. Use it to discuss African art and culture, as well as color, an element of art. Students will create an Ndebele house with tempera paint and construction paper 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 In My African Art Lesson
Can I be honest with you? Art history can sometimes be boring for kids. There, I said it. Teaching about artists and cultures doesnāt have to be a snoozer, though!Ā
Iāve designed 3 different ways for students to attempt this African 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 studentās artwork
- āYou Pickā 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
- Ndebele Houses worksheet about the beading and mural traditions of the Ndebele and the special meaning of the chosen paint colors
- āBig Ideasā reflection worksheet where students write about their art processĀ
- Self-assessment worksheet so kids can think about how they performed during the project
- Art grading rubric which assesses expectations, craftsmanship, work habits, creativity, and clean-up
- 8 āI CANā 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 African art outside of the art room
Ways to Use This Ndebele Houses Art Project for Black History Month
This African art lesson plan 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 (Ndebele Houses Art Lesson)
- 1 Non-Editable PowerPointĀ
- 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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This was an excellent resource to learn about African Heritage art! All materials were provided including a step-by-step presentation, so no prep was needed. My students were engaged and really enjoyed making these Ndebele inspired houses. This activity provided guidance for those that needed it, but also allowed for individuality as every piece was unique.
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I really enjoyed this bundle and template! It made my lesson planning so much easier!Ā
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My 10 year old did this for her research presentation on Africa Art forms and we learned so much and then had a great time coloring it. The whole class was very engaged and interested in this project.Ā
Terms of Use
Please refer to my completeĀ terms of useĀ prior to purchasing.
The Ndebele Houses Art Project is a vibrant and engaging way to introduce students to the rich artistic traditions of the Ndebele people. The resource is well-organized, with clear worksheets and step-by-step guidance that make it easy to implement, whether for a planned lesson or as part of art sub plans. Students are naturally drawn to the bold patterns and bright colours, making the activity both exciting and accessible for a range of grade levels. What makes this project especially valuable is how it blends cultural learning with creativity. Students not only practice patterning and design skills but also gain an appreciation for the history and significance behind Ndebele art. It opens the door for meaningful conversations about culture and expression while allowing students to take pride in their own creations. Overall, this is a thoughtful, visually engaging resource that works beautifully in any classroom setting.
I used this resource in conjunction with a project my students were already completing about Ndebele patterns. They really enjoyed using the roll and draw worksheet to try new ideas on the pre-drawn house!
This was a great resource for our art-around-the-world theme! It explained concepts in a way that was understandable for my older classes, but easily adaptable for the younger ones. I tweaked the project a bit with the lower elementary classes to help them practice patterns and review lines; the upper elementary students followed the “pick your own” designs independently.
I modified this to use with my first graders during our cultures unit. This was their favorite activity! They loved learning about the traditional homes and their cultural meanings.
What a great activity! Our houses turned out beautifully and the students enjoyed learning about this style of art. Thank you.