Area of Interest: Traditional knowledge
Skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing
Competences: Discourse competence and Social competence
Age Bracket: 16 – 18
Time Commitment:
Affordability:
Materials:
– Tools for designing, making cards (coloured paper, different types of coloured pens, pencils, glue, etc.)
– Image recognition tool (e.g. Google Lens).
– Any available explanatory dictionary of ornaments (e.g. Ektermane, B. Zīmju kārtis., www.zimjuspeks.lv)
– Access to the internet (individual option)
Expert recommendations:
Choose from patterns (ornaments) and plants (one symbol at a time) that fit the family logo. Tries to create a family logo and its story.
The aim is to understand that in nature everything is interconnected, the shape of a plant, its growth, characteristics shape its functionality. Each plant has its own role to play in the overall habitat, flora and human life. Digital resources or tools used.
Step 1: Choose the ornament corresponding to the family (homework, research stage)
In conversations with the older generation, you can find out if the family has ever had a logo or a distinctive sign. If not, ethnographic costumes appropriate to the region can be researched and an ornament chosen.
Step 2: Choosing a plant
Go out into nature and use a plant identification tool to select a plant that could be used in the family logo. First, choose a plant based on its visual appearance, i.e. a plant that speaks to you and feels familiar. It is recommended to take several plants in order to decide on the most appropriate plant to include in the family logo, after learning about its use in nature, its specific growth characteristics and, later, its symbolism. Working with the image recognition tool allows you to practise your knowledge of Latin and English, as they contain more information about the name of the plant, the specifics of its growth.
Step 3: Identifying symbolic meanings
Using dictionaries of symbols (ornaments, plants, etc.), find out the symbolic meanings of plants and ornaments. The teacher’s role as a consultant is particularly important here, as many plants have established meanings that are specific to the region and should be discussed or where such explanations can be found. For plants, they are also linked to functional specificity. It is possible that a pupil may want to change some of the details when reading the symbolic explanation of a plant or ornament.
Step 4: Creating a family logo
Using different design elements and available materials, a family logo is created. Individual creativity is important here. The teacher advises, suggests and ensures that the symbolic explanations are written down and understood by the pupil.
Step 5: Presentation
Each pupil is given the opportunity to present his/her logo, introducing the symbolic meaning of the plant and ornament and explaining why he/she felt it important to include these qualities and values in the family logo.
Step 6: Conclusion
The logo can be used for an exhibition, a gift to parents, a demonstration of good practice on social networks.
