Lesson Title: Ga'u
Course: Three-Dimensional Design
Grade Level: 9-12

Objectives:  As a result of instruction, students will be able to...
1. Identify symbols of protection from many cultures.
2. Identify a ga'u and describe its use in Tibetan culture.
3. List some of the things that might be carried by Tibetans in a ga'u.
4. Create a functional ga'u and fill it with personal symbols of protection.

Materials:
clay                          glaze
cardboard                 paper mache
metal sheets              gems
paint                         found objects

Intructional Resources:
1. visual aids Tibetan Art from the Newark Museum:
   Tibetan men wearing ga'us, 1930
   Ga'u
   What's inside a ga'u
   Tsa Tsa and mold
2. Tibetan Art from the Newark Museum, p. 47-60
3. web site on ga'u
4. actual ga'u purchased from a Tibetan shop
5. web site on tsa tsa
6. actual tsa tsa purchased from web site
7. movie "Himalaya"

Vocabulary:
ga'u- charm boxes or relic shrines used to hold sacred objects and protect the wearer    
tsa tsa- small votive images of clay made in a mold and often placed inside ga'u
mantras- prayers
relics- remains or artifacts

Motivation:
1. Students will watch the movie "Himalaya."
2. Teacher will ask students questions:
   "What did the child take off of his father's neck and later give to his father's friend?"
   "Why do you think it was worn?"
   "When do you think it was worn?"
   "Why did he take it from his father?"
   "Why did he give it to his father's friend?"
   "What do you think might be inside it?"
3. Teacher will show pictures of ga'u and tell students about them.  When traveling, they are used as portable shrines and while at home, they are kept on the household altar.  The contents of the ga'u protect the wearer, which is why they are worn on long journeys.  Contents might include mantras, written texts, tsa tsa, relics, and other sacred objects, such as bits of thread and cloth from a lama's garment, sacred crystals, and woodblock prints of the deities.  
4. Students will brainstorm and research protective symbols from many cultures i.e. mezuzah in Judaism and certain masks in Africa.

Procedure:
1. Students will sketch out what their ga'u will look like.
2. Students will build the basic structure of their ga'u in their choice of materials.
3. Students will decorate the outside of their ga'u.
4. Students will place personal symbols in their ga'u.

Evaluation:
Did students...
1. Identify protective symbols from several cultures.
2. Describe the use of a ga'u in Tibetan culture and what would be carried in it.
3. Create a unique and functional ga'u.
4. Carry personal protective symbols inside the ga'u.