LESSON CAN BE ADAPTED TO HIGH SCHOOL USING CORRUGATED CARDBOARD (SEE LINK BELOW) 
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Rationale for Teaching Lesson:

Using the Notan collages students will create a paper mask that uses FORM and LINE

Lesson Objectives:

1. To use a collage as inspiration for the mask.

2. To learn about form and line.

3. To use a simple square and all the negative cuttings to create a mask.

4. To understand about symmetry and asymmetry, and the Principle of Design, Balance.

New York State Learning Standards:

Standard 1: Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute creation and performance in the arts and participate in various roles in the arts.

Standard 2: Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the materials and resources available for participation in the arts in various roles.

Standard 3: Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the arts, connecting the individual to other works and to respond to other aspects of human endeavor and thought.

Standard 4: Students will develop and understanding of the personal and cultural force that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.

National Standards below

How the Standards are addressed in this lesson:

1. Creation of a Notan mask.

2. Understanding of paper sculpture as a medium.

3. View and respond to cultural masks - discuss purposes

4. Written Artist Statement about the collage and mask.

Lesson Procedures:

Lesson Segments:

Resources below

Materials:

1.  Discussion and demo of paper mask making techniques

1.  12 x 12 bristol paper, scissors, Elmer’s glue (White Tag Board could be sued)

2.  Creation of mask, including development of rubric.

2. White paper, 12 x 18, Black squares cut to size 5” x5”, Elmer’s Glue, xeroxes of rubric.

3.  Independent work on masks

3.

4.  Intro to Line and demo of painting

4. Watercolor sets or tempera paints, brushes, water containers

5. Artist Statement & grading of art.

5. Artist Statement xeroxes

Segment 1: Discussion and demo of paper mask making techniques. (1 class)

Teaching Style:

Guided Practice Discussion of mask construction, using collage as inspiration. 

ê      Demo using a square and creating Form by cutting the bottom and top, overlapping the pieces to make it 3-D.  Use clothespins to hold together while glue dries.

ê      Demo various techniques: crimping and curling the paper.

ê      Make flaps to be able to glue pieces on.

Independent Practice Begin work on masks

Assessment Method: Verbal

Modifications:

Segment 2: Creation of mask, including development of rubric. (1 class)

Teaching Style:

Guided Practice Continue masks. After a day of work, develop rubric.

Independent Practice Continue masks

Assessment Method: Verbal

Modifications:

Note: for National Standards 4, 5, and 6 - present a variety of cultural masks for discussion. Cultural masks can be presented before OR after the mask making process. Reflect on meaning and purpose of masks. Tie in masks of Japan and China - as well as many other cultures. Students can reflect on meaning and purpose of their own masks. For National Standard 6 - Bring in comprehensive arts (music, dance, drama), social studies and math concepts in discussions.

Segment 3: Independent work on masks (2-4 classes)

Teaching Style:

Guided Practice Review masks

Independent Practice Continue work on masks

Assessment Method: Verbal

Modifications:  

Segment 4: Intro to Line and demo of painting (2-3 classes)

Teaching Style:

Guided Practice  Discussion of Line and demo painting techniques

Independent Practice Paint masks

Assessment Method: Rubric and Reflective Questions. Look at the National Standards you want to emphasize and write up reflective questions.

Modifications: Students who lag behind could use markers to decorate their masks.

Excellent

Good

Adequate

Unsatisfactory

Score

Form

There is very clear Form in the mask – it is  definitely 3-D because it has a lot of depth (15)

There is clear Form in the mask –because it has enough depth to make it 3-D (13)

There is just enough depth to make it 3-D and have Form in the mask  (11)

There is not enough depth to make it 3-D and have Form in the mask  (9)

Shape

Uses a variety of Shapes: it is very clear that there are many varieties of freeform and geometric shapes, including many different sizes (20)

Uses some variety of Shapes: it is clear that there are some varieties of freeform and geometric shapes, including some different sizes (18)

Uses a little variety of Shapes: there are a few varieties of freeform and geometric shapes, including a few different sizes (16)

Uses very little variety of Shapes: there are a many of the same freeform or geometric, and similar sizes (14)

Space

There is very creative use of negative Space within the mask and the positive Space added on around the square – it is very interesting to look at! (20)

There is some creative use of both negative Space within the mask and positive Space added on around the square – it is pretty interesting to look at! (18)

There is use of both negative Space within the mask and positive Space added on around the square – it is sort of interesting to look at, but could be more of either one or both kinds of Space! (16)

There is little use of both negative Space within the mask and positive Space added on around the square – it is not very interesting to look at, and needed more work (14)

Line

There is a very interesting design painted on the mask using a large Variety of Line, and all 5 kinds can be seen easily (15)

There is a pretty interesting design painted on the mask using some Variety of Line, and all 5 kinds can be seen, but we might have to look a bit (13)

There is a design painted on the mask using little Variety of Line, and all 5 kinds can be seen, but we have to look kind of hard – and it is not all that interesting (11)

There is little thought evident in the design painted on the mask using very little Variety of Line, and/or not using all 5 kinds of line – it is a bit boring to look at (9)

Color

There is clearly a lot of thought put into the Color of the design, using Variety of Color, making it very interesting to look at (10)

There is clearly some thought put into the Color of the design, using some Variety of Color, making it pretty interesting to look at (8)

There is little evidence of thought put into the Color of the design, using only a little Variety of Color, making it not that interesting to look at (7)

There is no evidence of thought put into the Color of the design, and/or using almost no Variety of Color, making it very boring to look at (6)

Cutting

The cutting is smooth everywhere and there are almost NO jagged edges (10)

The cutting is pretty smooth almost everywhere and there only a few jagged edges (8)

The cutting is a bit rough in many spots with several jagged edges (7)

The cutting is very rough everywhere with lots of jagged edges (6)

Gluing

The gluing is very, very neat with absolutely no smudges (10)

The gluing is pretty neat with only one or two smudges (8)

The gluing is somewhat messy with several smudges (7)

The gluing is very messy with many smudges everywhere(6)

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