Submitted by Judy Decker
Lesson Plan: 7^th Grade Art
Unit: Abstraction in Art – Mancala Game Boards – Animals in Art
Lesson: Paper Maché Mancala Game Boards.  

Elementary Adaptation - by Michal Austin

Recycling: African children are very resourceful when it comes to making toys. Africans use materials that are available to them to make utilitarian objects as well as art objects. Animal spirits are very important to the indigenous cultures/religions. Mancala is a math strategy game played throughout Africa. It is often used as a means to settle disputes—calmly. My students will make mancala game boards in fun animal forms to share with the math department (starting first with the 6^th/7^th Connections team).  

   
See back view of Giraffe to see how necks were hollowed out some what for the mancala end cup.

Vocabulary:

Materials:

It should be noted that some students might still be working on printmaking project.  This unit is designed so that all students are kept busy everyday.  Compensations are made at the end for students who are straggling behind (some groups “hired” helpers to finish paper mache….They ”bought” their time by giving them Mona Bucks they had earned. They could also hire base coat painters)

1.       Present/review vocabulary. Demonstrate process of building armature

2.       Construct an armature for mancala/animal sculpture. Scenario: "You have been commissioned to make an animal design for a mancala game for “MindWare Toys” (or whatever company you choose).  Since many designs will be submitted---you have chosen to keep your cost at an absolute minimum. Your designs must exhibit craftsmanship (be very smooth) as they will be used to make molds for mass produced cast game boards. The designs on the boards made for sale must be striking—but easy to re-produce as they will be hand painted.

3.      Make armature for animal using Styrofoam egg cartons, cardboard, wire and masking tape. Two corrugated cardboard shapes will be used form the contour of the animals. Newspaper will give bulk/thickness between the cardboard. A plastic nut cup at each end will serve as the well for holding captured game pieces. Think 'whimsical' –animal forms need to be simple—block like. Tape all parts securely. Cover any cardboard that shows with aluminum foil (this will help keep the cardboard from getting soft with application of paste/ papier-maché layers) See in progress photos

4.      Apply layers of papier maché over armature—will need two layers (minimum). First layer was newspaper – the second layer was brown paper toweling end rolls (all FREE!) - See in progress photos . Some students found that it was easier to use plaster gauze strips to line the egg carton cups (only one layer is needed to line cups).

5.      Paint with acrylic paints (when dry)- accent with paint markers and fabric paints. We used freebie house paints for our base coats. Student who finished were on game piece duty….We made all of the game pieces from clay – I fired them in small ceramic bowls that I had – then the students dyed then using liquid watercolors. When I could – I fired them right inside their ceramic box project (which was the purpose of the box – to hold the pieces and instructions – some made a drawer in their sculpture for the game pieces and instructions)

6.      Assessment:
Student evaluation and critique
Class critique
Modified rubric: Armature problem solving, papier-maché, painting skills, and patterns.  

Rules of the Game (These are the rules we used. Rules vary from region to region as does the name of the game)

This is a version of the basic game, known as two-rank Mancala.

1. The Mancala 'board' is made up of two rows of six holes each. (An empty egg carton is perfect - with a cup at each end for the "house/store"

2. Four pieces -- marbles or stones (buttons work too) -- are placed in each of the 12 holes. The color of the pieces is irrelevant.

3. Each player has a 'store' to the right side of the Mancala board. Small butter dishes or fruit cups work well.

4. The game begins with one player picking up all of the pieces in any one of the holes on his side.

5. Moving counter-clockwise, the player deposits one of the stones in each hole until the stones run out.

6. If you run into your own store, deposit one piece in it. If you run into your opponent's store, skip it.

7. If the last piece you drop is in your own store, you get a free turn.

8. If the last piece you drop is in an empty hole on your side, you capture that piece and any pieces in the hole directly opposite.

9. Always place all captured pieces in your store.

10. The game ends when all six spaces on one side of the Mancala board are empty.

11. The player who still has pieces on his side of the board when the game ends captures all of those pieces.

12. Count all the pieces in each store. The winner is the player with the most pieces.

Tips:

Planning ahead is essential to victory in board games like Mancala. Try to plan two or three moves into the future.

Objectives:  The learner will

·         Create a 3 dimensional work of art from a 2 dimensional plan—foster problem solving skills

·         Develop skills in papier-maché technique - skills in painting - patterns.

·         Become aware of careers in art

·         Utilize the elements and principals of design to create 3-D form —pattern, painting skills, color planning

·         Develop math/strategy skills in playing the game Mancala

Instructional Resources:

African Art Resources

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/afr-less.htm

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/afrilink.htm 

Images from British Museum Exhibit   Patty Hardy's collection

Submitted by: Michal Austin

Vocabulary Words:  3-Dimensional, balance, line pattern, craftsmanship, gesso, mancala Materials:  egg cartons, card board, milk cartons, masking tape, gesso, tempera (or acrylics), paint pens  Optional: toilet paper tubes

From Michal: Not having a sink in my room I have shied away from doing too many 3-dimensional projects with my intermediate students due to clean-up challenges. For this project I didn't need any additional clean-up. We measured and cut out cardboard frames to nest our egg cartons in. Four milk cartons were needed per student, and these were attached at each end. After attaching everything together with masking tape they were gessoed and allowed to dry well. We painted with tempera and then I had students draw line patterns on the sides with paint pens.

Optional: Many of the African mancala boards are raised up. Students could glue and tape on toilet paper tubes (four per student) to make a stand for their boards. For sturdier boards, paper maché layers could be applied - then finish as above.