Elizabeth Reoch

Visual art lessons from a Canadian Artist, Teacher

Aboriginal Art Lesson Plan – Dot Art


Aboriginal Art Lesson Plan – Dot Art

Aboriginal Art Lesson Plan - Dot Art

Aboriginal Art Lesson Plan – Dot Art is done by the indigenous peoples of Australia they represents native tales of creation. The colors used are yellow, brown, red and white. These colors represent the sun, soil, red desert and the white clouds. Symbols that represent individual clan legends and mysteries can be found in Dot Art.

This lesson plan brings the traditional aboriginal Dot Art to students helping then appreciate another culture while learning about symbolism and abstract design.

Art Lesson Plan Materials

Thick Paper – Pencils

Acrylic Paint



Aboriginal symbol Guide

Dot Art Lesson Inspiration

To inspire creative ideas read aboriginal myths together such as the “Giant Kangaroos” or “Why the Crow is Black” then examine the Art depicting the myths. The students should use the symbol guide handout sheet to discuss the colors and the symbols that represent the different elements in the stories.

aboriginal art lesson plan - kangaroo

           Giant Kangaroos

aboriginal symbols

       symbol guide handout sheet

The students can use the aboriginal symbols in their own art but they should be encouraged to personalize their art by creating their own symbols.




Aboriginal Art Lesson Application

Students first choose an animal that best represents their personality for this project. The animal can be chosen from a list of native spirit animals or from their own imaginations. A fun way for students to choose their animal is to have them take an online test.




Have the students draw a picture of their “spirit animal”in the center of their paper.

drawing of deer

Then add one or two simple abstract symbols that represent their animal’s personality, drawing outward from the center.


The symbol is then repeated in an echoing pattern leading outward from the “spirit Animal”.

Aboriginal art lesson plan- dot art

They paint their design and their “spirit animal” using two warm complementary colors such as red and yellow, orange and yellow or brown and red. The colours should be alternated thus creating a pattern.

Aboriginal art under- painting for dot art

Then using Q-Tips students paint dots along their pencil lines with white, black, brown, red, yellow and orange paint. For contrast they should choose two opposite colors to their under painting.

Dot Art Lesson

This painting represents an artistic personality with the deer “spirit animal” . The triangular symbols represent the grass and the natural habitat of the deer while the circular shapes symbolize the sun and moon.

Presentation and Grade

Students should present their finished painting to the class in a round table discussion group. They should be able to explain why they chose their animal and what their symbols represent.

A successful painting should have a pattern that uses the whole composition with lines going off the edge of the page. They should be able to explain the meaning behind their symbols. Used warm earth colors with a carefully executed use of the dot art technique. A painting that goes above and beyond expectations would be a painting that has directional lines and symmetry.


This Aboriginal Dot Art Lesson Plan can be expanded into a language arts project. Where students use a narrative plan to write and present their own spirit animal legend based on their painting.


  1. Thanks Elizabeth for introducing your students to our amazing Indigenous culture. A really good and simple lesson plan to get your kids excited and creative. Many Thanks, JJ 🙂

  2. Is there another more meaningful way of teaching about place and country that is authentic and seeks the advice of Indigenous communities?
    By portraying Indigenous Art as a ‘myth’ or ‘legend’ demonstrates Indigenous history and culture as something that is fiction. Understanding Indigenous cultures and communities we know that this is not true. We must work with one another to achieve educational goals and cultural understanding.

    • As a teacher who was mandated to teach about the aboriginals of Canada I can definitely tell you there is more then one way to teach about aboriginal people. Myths,stories and art work comprise one section of the curriculum. Other curriculum areas: The influences of the environment such as how available wildlife and vegetation dictated living structures, clothing and story telling. The history of displacement and current issues which should be discussed. How european changed, influenced the direction and destiny of aboriginal people.

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