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African Mask Design
Fifth graders design and create an African mask using black paper and oil pastels.
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Spirit Mask Ashira/Bapunu, Ogowe River, Gabon
Explore the concept of beauty as it has been seen through the eyes of various African tribal groups. Learners create masks of beauty as they see it, taking the African concept of inner beauty into consideration. This lesson is great for...
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African Mask Design
High schoolers view examples of African mask designs from the past. Individually, they develop their own design based on basic geometric shapes. They use paper mache to make the masks and paint them to end the lesson plan and discuss...
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Sundiata, Mali’s Lion King
Students investigate the history of Mali. In this African cultures lesson, students research the impact of Sundiata Keita as king of Mali, recognize the significance of historical Malian festivals, and create character masks to be worn...
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African Clay Masks
Students create a clay mask with African characteristics. They discuss what masks are used for. They draw a picture of their own African mask. They apply features to their masks by scoring and applying slip.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series: Removing the Mask
Describe, analyze, compare and contrast poets from the Harlem Renaissance. Critical thinkers analyze the imagery, characterization, tone, symbolism, and historical context of Jacob Lawrence, Helene Johnson, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. A...
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African Ceramic Mask Making
Students investigate a variety of African mask types, design several masks, and create an example of an African ceramic mask in this 5th grade through High School Art lesson. The lesson can take anywhere from 6 lessons to 16 lessons.
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What's Behind that Mask?
Students use a "spider web" graphic organizer to record information about different types of masks they are familiar with. They write a paragraph about masks. Students read about Native American cultures and compare/contrast the...
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Carnival Celebrations: Masks and Vejigantes
Students explore Carnival. In this Puerto Rico Carnival lesson plan, students discover the history of the cultural celebration as well as the significance of the elaborate masks worn for the festivities. Students create their own...
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They Put on Masks
Students discover Native American culture by creating masks. In this customs lesson, students create their own masks in class from plaster and paint. Students perform a skit in front of their school showcasing their mask making efforts.
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Cut Paper Masks
Learners examine different types of masks from various cultures. Using the masks, they identify the use of design elements in them. They create their own paper mask using the elements and share them with the class. After viewing a...
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They Put On Masks
Eighth graders examine Native American art. For this mask making lesson, 8th graders compare mask making traditions among different cultures. Students watch a demonstration of mask making and construct a mask of their own.
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African Masks (Pre-Visit)
Second graders observe and describe several masks from different parts of Africa housed in the Smithsonian Institute (National Museum of African Art) Washington, D.C. They use the internet to view the Smithsonian's virtual exhibits.
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Spirit Mask
Students create traditional African art pieces. In this visual arts lesson plan, students use modeling materials to craft Gabon clay masks that represent beauty.
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African Masks
Fourth graders create three-dimensional paper African masks. They analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Africa. they discover that masks were worn for various ceremonies.
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Creating An African Style Mask
Students investigate the different types of African masks that are found using the internet to perform research. They draw four different images based on the images downloaded. Students must cite sources used using MLA formatting.
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-OGBO : Sharing Life in an African Village
Students read OGBO: Sharing Life in an African Village by Ifcoma Onyefulu. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of Nigerian culture. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing, social...
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Nasco Color Sculpt Mask Making
Students study the various masks made in African, Japanese, and Ancient Egyptian cultures and discuss the funtion of these masks in each society. They create a mask from one of these cultures using a molding technique.
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Paper Sculpture Headdress
Students examine African masks and headdresses, and create their own.
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Communicating Values and History through Masks
Students create an African style mask that depicts a value or character trait that is important in their community.
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Nyon Nea Mask Dan, Liberia & Ivory Coast
Students create nyon nea masks. In this African art lesson, students design and create nyon nea-style hats that demonstrate beauty as used by the Dan.
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Folktale through African Art
Students study folktales and other stories from West Africa. By hearing and reading these stories they explore many new cultural and religious beliefs, such as spirits inhabiting nature and possessing special powers. Once the students...
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Bamana Chi Wara Headdresses
Students create African headdresses out of styrofoam blocks and black paint using information gathered from the Bamana Chi Wara style of headdresses. This Art lesson can be adapted for many different levels.