MIDDLE SCHOOL MASK LESSON IDEAS

Submitted by Stacey Fisher, Lakeview Middle School, Winter Garden, FL
Lesson: Plaster Cast Clay

Here are a few examples from this mask project. Stacey does this every year. Students take basic plastic mask molds cover them with plastic wrap or foil and build up clay in different ways. Then they cast the clay form in plaster cloth. Remove it from the clay and paint it with acrylic or tempera paint. Lesson takes about 2 weeks total with the set up and final assessment. It is always a popular project. Shown: 7th/8th grade masks. Note: save clay for this project and reuse from year to year. Keep it separate from your clay for ceramics as small particles of plaster imbedded in clay can make clay projects explode when fired.

Submitted by:  Marcia Lavery
Lesson: Expressive Masks - Mixed media

Marcia's student use plaster gauze and plastic face molds. To get a smoother surface for painting, student layered the strip INSIDE the face mold. Apply at least two layers gently pressing into the features of the face. Cast faces were glued to cardboard (canvas board could also be used) and plaster strips applied around the edges. Board and mask form are gessoed. Once gesso is dry, students paint and collage to finish the relief sculpture creating a mood or emotion.

From Marcia: MASKS FROM MANY CULTURES: if you're doing a lesson on masks, this is a "must-have" video.  I show it every quarter to my 7th grade students. It's entertaining, informative and chock full of mask examples from many cultures.  I have them divide a notebook paper in half. On one side, they make a list of "Materials that masks have been made from throughout history", and on the other side they make a list of "Purposes/Uses of Masks".  This helps them to focus on the content of the movie and even my special needs kids can make these lists.  I want them to see how different cultures use masks and they are amazed at the variety of materials masks can be made from.

 

Bunki  uses 36 gauge silver metal from Nasco (38 gauge metal is too flimsy) She cuts the 12" wide roll into 8x12" individual pieces with her paper cutter. She also cuts 1x12" strips for practice. Students get 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of newsprint. Fold it hotdog or hamburger style...whichever way they want their face to go. They draw their face shape with pencil onto the folded sheet and cut it doubled so when they open it up, it's the total face shape. The can also cut out the eyes (paper folded still) and any other shapes to be symmetrical. Open it up and draw sections of design for ideas to be transferred later. Students get a 1x12" strip of metal and a magazine. Discuss how the pencil pushes down and "indents" the metal which is what repousse is. Have them practice different patterns and designs on the strip. As they are half way through this exercise, discuss "counter repousse" which is flipping it over on the back and going on the outside and inside of the previous lines drawn on the front causing a re-indenting or emphasizing the original indention. Try dots, strips, zigzags, etc. She has tried other utensils but most kids prefer the original pencil and Bunki does, too. After practicing with the strip, take the newsprint mask design and tape it with two little pieces of masking tape onto the metal. Trace the outline with the pressure of the pencil onto the metal (again with magazine. underneath). This metal is light enough to cut out easily with reg. scissors.	Submitted by Bunki Kramer Foil Tooled Carnival Masks
When all the repousse work is completed, her students use permanent colored Sharpies for color. Each student is given a small square of wood and a dowel. Wooden squares are pre-drilled for the dowel. Students paint both with tempera (acrylic paint may also be used). When dry, add velcro strips to back of mask and to dowel to attach. Holes can be punched into metal easily to add ribbons, beads, and feathers. Students like to add as much as possible so they need a light hand guidance for decorating. Sometimes they can get carried away with features. Use your judgment.  See Foil Tooled Mask Lesson Plan
Submitted by Bunki Kramer Lesson: Mask-scapes  Cast mask by smoothing plaster strips to the inside  of the plastic mask form to give a smooth surface for painting. Glue mask to canvas board (heavy cardboard or masonite). Paper mache edges around the mask - Gesso - then paint with acrylics

ELEMENTARY MASK LESSON IDEAS

Submitted by Nan Hathaway
Lesson: Into to Masks - Mask drawing

Nan teaches in a Choice Based classroom setting. She introduces mask making with a mask drawing. For this lesson, she provides a collection of cardboard half face masks. Students pair up. One student poses with the mask of his or her choice while the other student does the portrait. Students can then switch positions. See Nan's Blog for more mask projects. Cardboard masks can be found a numerous sites online.

LESSON PLANS ON INCREDIBLE ART DEPARTMENT

• 3-D Paper Masks and Symmetrical Masks - Elementary and Middle School
• Paper Mache Masks - Middle School and up
• Foil Tooled Masks - Elementary through Middle School
• Venetian Carnival Masks - Middle School through high school
• Cartoon Character Masks - Middle School
• Ceramic Masks with a Message - High School
• Notan Masks - Middle School
• White on White Relief Masks - Middle School
• Half Face Wire Screen Masks - Elementary
• Greek Theater Masks - Middle School
• Paper Mache Heads - "Tona" - Middle School
• Leather Mardi Gras Masks - High School
• Ceramic Cultural Masks - Upper Elementary  through High School
• Mycenaean Masks - Copper tooling - High school
• Masks and Mores Masks - many lesson suggestions - Middle School
• Masks of the Incas - Elementary
• Plaster Gauze Masks - Middle School
• Personal Identity - Face and Body Casting - Middle school and up
• Ceramic Portrait Relief - Middle School
• Paper Sculpture Headdress - Upper Elementary through Middle School
• Northwest Coast Totem Mask - Middle School