Fifth Grade Multicultural Mask Experience

  

Grade:       Fifth Grade
Subject:   Art
Curricular Goal: To educate our students visually as well as multi-culturally.

Introduction:  We will travel to different countries exploring masks of the many cultures.  Our stops will include Africa, Mexico, Japan, China, and Native American villages as well as other side trips along the way.  We will journey to many corners of the world to discover the cultural significance of masks.

Task:  Mr. Michael Paskewicz, Superintendent of School District 95, has requested the fifth graders to create multi-cultural masks to embellish his office.  Students will research  a culture and design a mask out of clay which  reflects the style of that culture.

Process:
1. Conduct Research -  Students write a paragraph about how masks were used in the culture of their choice.

2. Thumbnail Sketches - Students will draw five sketches to help determine the final appearance of their mask.

3. Mask making Video -  Students will view a mask making video.

4. Mask Production - Students will produce a mask constructed out of clay.

5. Mask Embellishment - Students will paint and decorate their mask with a variety of collage material.

6. Group Critique - Students will report to the class about how masks affect the culture they choose.  They will discuss their art work using the correct cultural and art terms that were presented in class.

7.Display - The culminating activity will be hanging the masks in and around Mr. Paskewicz's office .  Mr. Paskewicz will choose the masks for his office.  The remaining pieces will be displayed in the individual elementary schools.

Resources:
1. Masks From Many Cultures - Crystal Productions Video

2. Kids Multicultural Art Book, Arts & Crafts Experiences From Around The World - Alexandra M. Terzian

3. Brown Bag Ideas From Many Cultures - Irene Tejada

4. Crafts Of Many Cultures - Aurelia Gomez

5. Your school and public library

6. www.lib.virginia.edu/dic/exib/93.ray.aa/African.html

Evaluation:
Students will be evaluated on these three concepts:

1. Completion of the research paper.

2. Satisfactory completion of the clay mask.

3. Satisfactory completion of the masks embellishments.

4. Participation in group critique.

Conclusion:
Fifth graders have now completed their trip of exploration of masks of many different cultures.  They have gained the knowledge of a multicultural experience as well as creating their own piece of art work.

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                                Page Sponsor:  Crystal Steker
                                Page Content Author:  Melissa O'Hara
                                Date:  11/13/2006