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Plan Number: 026
Title/Lesson/Theme: Dogon and Bamana Masks
Designed by: Michaela Armstrong
Grade level/Discipline: Kindergarten/Art
Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
Objectives (what will be assessed?):
(what will be assessed?): Kindergarten students will be introduced to mask making in Mali, focusing on the Bamana and Dogon people. Students will gain an awareness of the materials and tools used to create masks along with the functions of various masks within these two African societies.
Description/Background:
Students will have had some preliminary information on masks. They may draw upon their own experiences with mask wearing at various times of the year. A slideshow will be presented to students highlighting masks from Mali, specifically Bamana and Dogon masks (click here to view or download sample list). Docents from the University of Iowa Museum of Art and other guest speakers could share masks from the Dogon and Bamana people. Private collectors may also be willing to lend masks so that children could have "hands on" experience holding and touching masks. Young children gain information more successfully and long term when they can be interactive and kinesthetic learners.
Step by Step Procedure:
1. Show slide show of Bamana and Dogon masks (click here to view or download sample list), stopping along the way to point out materials used by the mask maker. Ask the group questions like "How do you suppose this mask was used?" "Is this mask used during a celebration?" "How often do you suppose people would wear this mask?" "Does everyone wear the same kind of mask?" (male/female)
Later on: (directly after slide show or as follow up)
2. Children can then make their own masks out of paper using paper plates, scraps, yarn, straws. Masks may also be made out of clay, wood scraps or fabric.
3. Children will have opportunities to share their masks with others in the group, either in a small or large group setting. They may discuss the process and may want to demonstrate wearing their masks. A wall display of their completed masks may be intriguing for young children. The final display may resemble an art museum exhibit.
Assignment in CD (essays, chapters):
Slide show based on the "Art and Life in Africa" CD-ROM collection (click here to view or download sample list)
Studio Materials Needed:
Studio Materials Needed: All types and weights of paper, paper plates, glue, straws, yarn, glue, clay, fabric, pencils, markers, crayons, scissors.
Vocabulary:
Vocabulary: Bamana, Dogon, Mali, masks, masquerade, function, purpose
Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?:
Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?): Completion of step by step procedure, class discussion, peer sharing opportunities, and completed mask. Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?): Completion of step by step procedure, class discussion, peer sharing opportunities, and completed mask.
Bibliography/Alternative resources:
Websites:
Submitted 7/24/98