Khamsas (Good Luck Hands)
Lesson Plan

Hands have always been symbols of strength and power. Khamsas are amulets, or good luck charms, in the form of a hand. They originated in Morocco and spread among many Mediterranean cultures.

The word khamsa means "five" and refers to the five fingers. Khamsas are often so stylized that it is hard to recognize them as hands. Sometimes khamsas are five circles (fingers) placed around a central circle (palm). A khamsa with spread fingers is an averting hand, while a closed fingered hand brings good luck.

Khamsas that are worn as pendants are frequently made out of silver. The silver sheet metal form is bent into the shape desired and soldered. To make filigree khamsa, silver wire is twisted or braided together to form a thick rope that is then bent into different shapes and designs. The filigree can also be attached to a background of sheet silver. Some khamsas have good luck animals, like salamanders, incorporated into their design. Others have precious stones and gems set into the metal.

New Mexico Educational Standards:
Art 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8;
Social Studies II

Objectives:

1. Students will understand the way that khamsas are used. (Historical and cultural understanding.)

2. Student will describe and discuss the process of making a khamsa, including the use of symbols and imagery, their meaning and the materials that are used. (Perceiving, analyzing and responding.)

3. Students will explore 2 and/or 3 dimensional design elements, shapes and forms, decorative motifs, materials and symbols when making their own khamsa. (Creating and performing.)

Materials: pencils, ballpoint pens, scissors, glue sticks, metallic foil, metallic foil paper, card stock or construction paper cut to 6 ½" x 10", decorated papers, sequins, plastic gems (optional), foam or newspaper to use as a cushion, hole punches, ribbon or string.

Motivation
Look at images of khamsas or show the real thing. Explain the origin of the khamsa form and the way that it spread across Mediterranean nations. Talk about what hands can symbolize. Explain that each student will be making their own khamsa. They can think about pushing negative things away from them, averting bad things, or drawing good things towards them.

Procedure
1. Have the students select their foil or paper. They can place their hand on the foil or paper, making sure that it fits within the edges. They can position their fingers in a way that they like.
2. Students trace around their fingers, hand and wrist.
3. Then they cut out the shape of their hand.
4. If the students are using foil, have them place their khamsas on a piece of foam or a small pile of newspaper for a cushion. Use the ballpoint pens to press designs into the hand form. Remind them that they can press into each side of the khamsa.
5. They can draw designs and cut out different shapes from pieces of scrap foil and decorative papers and then glue them onto their khamsa.
6. Glue on sequins and/or gems.
7. If the students want to hang their khamsas, they can use a hole punch to make a hole in the top and then thread a piece of ribbon or string through. They may want to hang it up on a wall or a door, or wear it around their neck or wrist.
8. Let dry.

Evaluation
Create a khamsa bulletin board, or a group display (a la Alexander Girard!). Have a discussion with the students about the designs and decorations that they chose to use.

Have the students talk in small groups about what they were thinking about when they were making their khamsas. Using their conversation as a starting point, have them write individual or group short stories or poems about what they wish for.