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Plan Number: 029
Title/Lesson/Theme: Transformations: Animal Masks
Designed by: Denyse Harbacheck
Grade level/Discipline: Middle School/Art
Estimated Time: 7-1 hour classes
Objectives (what will be assessed?):
Students will be able to look at African masks and talk about the materials that were used to create them and the possible origins of those materials. Students will explore the symbolism that occurs in animal masks and use that information to create a papier mache mask that symbolize something about themselves or their own lives. Students will examine performances using masks from the Art and Life CD. Students will use their masks in a performance that personifies the animal they have chosen.
Description/Background:
Students will explore the idea of cross cultural exchanges of ideas and materials to create animal masks. Students will use the bull mask from Guinea-Bissau to begin exploring the image of the bull in African art. Students will discuss symbolism found in other images on masks. Students will use this information to theorize why African people used these materials and ideas and how other groups of people may have influenced their decisions.
Step by Step Procedure:
1. Students will begin by reviewing the chapter "Cultural Exchange".
2. Students will go to "resources" and find "Countries Database" and find Guinea-Bissau.
3. Students will search under "objects" for masks and look for the examples of bull masks.
4. After discussion as a group of symbolism, students will come up with an animal that symbolizes something about themselves or their lives.
5. Students will make a sketch of their animal
6. Students will make an armature with newspaper and aluminum foil of their animal mask.
7. Students will use art paste and newspaper strips to begin papier mache.
8. While papier mache is drying students will students will go to resources and look up "media catalogue" and search for performances that involve the use of masks.
9. Using information they have gathered from the Art and Life in Africa CD students will begin to brainstorm about possible ideas for performances.
10. Students will finish papier mache masks by painting them with acrylic paint and attaching raffia and feathers.
11. Students will use brown kraft wrap and acrylic paint to complete costumes for their performance.
12. Students will present their performances.
Assignment in CD (essays, chapters):
See "step by step procedure"
Studio Materials Needed:
Newspaper, Art paste, Aluminum foil, Found objects, Kraft wrap, Acrylic paints (black, brown, yellow, white, red, blue), 1/2 inch brushes, staplers, tape, and white glue
Vocabulary:
cross-cultural, indigenous, symbolism, construction, Guinea-Bissau, found objects
Evaluation/Assessment tool (how will objectives be assessed?:
Students will present a performance using their animal mask. Students will individually talk about the animal they have chosen and why they chose that animal. Students will gain a greater understanding and tolerance of cultures outside of their own. Students will gain an understanding of how people use art to enhance and explain their lives.
Bibliography/Alternative resources:
Websites:
Submitted 7/28/98