The Art of Growing Rice

This unit explores the importance of rice to many of the countries and cultures of Asia. Students will learn about the rice growing, harvesting and processing cycle. They will then use this knowledge as stimulus to create a dramatic music and dance performance. Students will discuss visual artworks in various countries of Asia, before creating a painting of their own depicting some aspect of the rice-growing cycle.

View index

Index

Unit Overview

Stage of schooling

Lower Primary

Learning focus

Music, Dance, Drama and Visual Arts

Elaborations

Da1.1 Students use their imagination and/or experience to create/re-create a set of body shapes or a simple movement sequence based on ideas and feelings suggested by texts from or about a country in Asia.
Dr1.1 Students create and perform works that communicate and explore their feelings and observations of specific cultural ceremonies.
Mu1.2 Students improvise short melodic phrases and sounds to accompany events or scenes in performance.
Mu2.2 Students identify the features and sounds of instruments from different musical traditions.
Mu2.4 Students compare and contrast the kinds of instruments that might be used to capture the spirit of a time and place.
VA2 Students observe and talk about meaning and representation in images and objects from a country in Asia.

Focus question

How is the growing of rice represented in works of art?

Overview

This unit provides students with the opportunity to explore the importance of rice to many of the countries and cultures of Asia and to use the theme of growing rice as stimulus for creating and performing works of art. Students begin by learning about the rice growing, harvesting and processing cycle. This knowledge is then used as stimulus to create a dramatic work and dance performance. Students then create their own paintings depicting an aspect of the rice growing process after having discussed visual artworks from some countries of Asia. Finally, students perform a traditional song using Indonesian language and associated movements. Appropriate music can be downloaded to support this activity. This unit can be integrated with activities in SOSE/HSIE, Languages and English.

Duration

This unit will take approximately 15 hours and can be completed in 15 one-hour blocks over a term.

Resources

Essential

Holmes, Margaret and O'Keeffe, Julie, Pak Yono's paddy field - Growing rice in Indonesia, 2003, NSW Department of Education and Training, New South Wales. Purchase.
Various paintings depicting the growing and harvesting of rice
Materials for painting (for example, rice paper or sandwich wrap, water colours, India ink or similar media, large and small soft brushes)
Recording of Lir Ilir performed by Makukuhan (Musica Viva Australia, provided below).
Rippin, Sally, 2004, The Really Big Food Project, Curriculum Corporation, Melbourne.

Optional

Kiting, Kathy and Agostino, Helen, 2001, Indonesia Kaleidoscope, Curriculum Corporation, Melbourne
Asian music for dancing
Props for dramatic performances
Department of Education and Training, 2002, An Introduction to the Traditional Performing Arts of Asia, Department of Education and Training, Victoria.

Activity 1