Institute for Native-serving Educators
Virtual Visit Request info Apply
  • Who we are
    • Program staff
    • University Advisory Council (UAC)
    • Contact us
  • Professional development programs
    • DINÉ
    • IECE
    • TLSI
    • ICSCI
    • ICSLI
    • CSIS
  • Events
    • Showcase
    • Borderlands Teach-in
    • Indigenous Educational Futures Summit
  • Apply to our programs
  • Curricula & resources
  • PITAS
  • TIIC
  • Support the INE
  • IN
  • Institute for Native-serving Educators
  • Sacred Geometry: The Language in Indigenous Arts and Engineering of the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Sacred Geometry: The Language in Indigenous Arts and Engineering of the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Posted by zl352 on January 16, 2026

Author: Chola E. De Torres
Seminar: Honoring Our Ancestors, Shaping Our Future: Indigenous STEM in Early Childhood
Program: IECE
Subject Area: Math
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Year of Publication: 2025

Abstract

This curriculum unit will represent the rationale of how sacred geometry lays geometric patterns built on, by a variety of characters such as shapes driven from nature or intentional deliberation guides the process of creating Art, engineering objects, and tools that explore the process of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) among early childhood learners of Dishchii’bikoh Community School FACE Program.
Patterns involve repetition, arrangement, and sequence in natural and urban environments. In
Art, patterns play a significant role in creating motifs, which can either be natural or deliberate. Patterns can also be found in other disciplines, such as mathematics, engineering, literature,
architecture, and music, from all over the world, to be utilized (Art in Context, 2025). This unit explores the use of patterns in Art and engineering with early childhood learners using communicative and functional Apache language described in tools, instructions, procedures, and communication. Thus, within the unit, daily strategic conversations guided by Apache Language will be in use to communicate all instructional and social conversational content.

Download Curriculum Unit