Masks with 5th Grade

There are so many different ways to create a mask in your classroom, but this project is among one of my favorites.  I enjoy it because students have freedom to choose their own designs.  This particular project is known throughout my school and students look forward to reaching 5th grade so they can finally create their own!  I've heard more than once on the first day of class, "We're making masks this year, right???"

I've adapted this project many times over the years due to the spaces I've worked in and the student climate.  Recently, I've been using pre-made pulp masks to save on time (this project can take quite a few weeks depending on how challenging you create the lesson).

Although this particular project was made with pre-made masks, I've also created this project with plaster wraps and mask molds.  It's another step your student can take in making their masks from scratch if you have the time.

Materials

-Mask examples (printed out)
-Mask template
-Pencils
-Black tracing markers
-Color markers
-Scissors
-Glue
-9 x 12 colored frame paper
-pulp paper mache masks (found in Nasco or Triarco)
-Paintbrushes
-Cups for water
-Tempura paint
-Paper towels
-Accessories (beads, gems, feathers, cord, etc.)
-Glitter pens (your choice)
-Hot glue gun (your choice, depending on the classes you teach)

Objectives

From learning about the uses of masks and designs from many cultures, students will create their own mask design.  Students are to develop an idea on a mask template by drawing and coloring in their own designs.  From that idea, students re-draw their design on the mask form, then apply tempura paint to their masks.  Accessories can be adding at the end of the unit.

Procedures

This unit lesson takes approximately 5-6 weeks to complete.  Each class period was approx. 40 minutes in length, meeting once a week.

Day 1: I share a Powerpoint I created of many masks from different cultures to help inspire students for their designs.  Afterwards, I begin the demonstration by showing what materials are available for creating the mask drawing over the template.  Students are encouraged to decide on their own design, and to help students who can't think of ideas, I provide a folder of different mask images to help spark the light bulbs in their heads.

(Please note:  I do not know how to share a pre-made Powerpoint on here.  I've tried many times, but I can't seem to figure it out.  Once I do, it will be up!)

(Another note:  I found mask images on Google.  Very easy to create your own printouts copy/paste in Microsoft Word.  You can also have students research on their own if you have the time and technology!)

Day 2: Students will be encouraged to complete their drawing designs, frame them with colored paper, then start their rough sketch on the masks.

Day 3-4: Students will continue to draw and paint their designs onto the masks.

Day 5: Once masks have finished, students can use hot glue guns (at designated stations in the room) to glue on accessories.  I encourage students to find their own accessories if they have something specific in mind.  When I was on a cart and in smaller rooms, I did not create a station and instead asked the students to hand me their accessories, which I glued on during plan time or after school.

Day 6: Wrap up accessories and artist statements.  At our school, we have chromebooks!  I have the students bring the chromebooks into the art room and enter in their artist statements straight to Artsonia.  The students reflect on their designs, the process, and how they felt about creating their artwork.
 

Drawing Examples

Finished Examples

                                              

"My mask design was inspired by how I am half Polish and American. I like this project because it was fun."

"My mask design was inspired by tigers. I liked it because I could create what I want to be"

"My mask design was inspired by my native country which is America, and the bald eagle, our country's symbol. I liked this project, although it got a little messy. I do like working with paint though. I liked this project because we got to pick something representative that we would like. This shows our creativity."

"My mask design was inspired by my thoughts and favorite things. I like this project because my favorite designs are zigzags and rainbows."

And Today's Special Guest...Mom! A Project Inspired by the Keeping Quilt

One day, I was walking past the 4th grade classrooms and noticed the students were reading the story called "The Keeping Quilt" by Patricia Polacco.  The homeroom teachers were doing class book cover contests, paper quilt patterns, and written responses inspired by the book and hanging their work in the hallways.  I was so excited when I saw the work they were doing, I asked if I could join in the fun!

Now for a little back story, before I was a teacher, I was a textile conservator.  In art school, I focused on the fiber arts, combining traditional methods with modern technology.  I would print photos onto fabric and create "story quilts."  This one below was created over 10 years ago for my grandma!  We added photos of our ancestry into one quilt!

So back to the story, I joined with the teachers in doing a quilt project of my own, inspired by The Keeping Quilt and an artwork by Gustav Klimt (titled Baby) seen below:

On the first day introducing the lesson, I was talking with my students about quilts and patterns while demonstrating the motions of the project.  I was sharing how I learned how to quilt from my own mother, and the students started asking if they could meet her!  Since my students were so interested, I invited my mom to my 4th grade class!  Here's some pictures of quilts she had made herself!

My mom has been making quilts since I was a baby.  She's been part of a local quilt guild for years and has made over 20+ quilts over the years.

She explained to the students the process of appliqué and embroidery, and how quilters hand stitched piece by piece before modern technologies.

This is one of the first quilts my mom had made.  It was my brother's baby quilt!

This one is a story quilt made by all her guild members.  Each member created a block of their child's favorite childhood story book.  The pieces were combined together and quilted, then hung in their local library.

Thank you, mom, for coming in and sharing your works with my students!

Now the project I shared is a familiar one I've seen from a few different bloggers on Pinterest.  Arts and Activities had also shared a similar project, which you can find here.

Materials
-10.5" x 16" white paper, about 60# weight
-12"x 18" colored paper for frame
-Black permanent markers
-Watercolor paint
-Brushes
-Pencils

Objectives
After reading "The Keeping Quilt" and discussing the artwork Baby by Gustav Klimt, students create a drawing of themselves sleeping under a quilt.  The quilts were to be filled with different patterns, then painted with watercolors.

Once completed, students reflected on their work by writing what their future dreams were and what they had accomplished with their project.

Follow here to view our Artsonia online gallery!

Combining Elements of Art With Core Subjects: January's Stepping Stones

For January's Stepping Stones, I focused on how to combine elements of art with the core subjects.  In January 2014, I was given a great opportunity to present to my district how the arts infuse core subjects within our own curriculum.  I took the opportunity to also share how core subjects and classroom teachers in our district can combine the art standards within their own lessons.

To view my complete article, please visit January's Stepping Stones column.

How Teachers Can Connect Arts Into Their Lessons 

1. Dance and theater are artistic ways to combine the arts and physical education.  With an emphasis on “body movement,” students exercise imagination and creative skills. (Emphasis on Dance and Physical Education Standards)

2. Have students draw what they hear while listening to music.  This encourages students to visualize sounds and practice their craftsmanship! (Combined with Music Core Arts Standards)

3. Create projects they could interact with!  Instruments, Rube Goldberg projects, etc… (Next Generation Science Standards)

4. Instead of writing out our answers in graphic organizers, why not draw what we are saying? (ELA Common Core Standards)

5. Writing can be more than just sentences!  Instead of coloring pictures, fill the images in with words! (ELA Common Core Standards)

6. Create a visual demonstration of the math problem. (Math Common Core Standards)

7. Use grids to encourage measurements and proportions. (Math Common Core Standards)

8. Are your students presenting?  Have the students be the presentation. (Drama Core Arts Standards)

9.When teaching history (or any subject), pick an artist that reflects the time or theme. (ELA Common Core)

10. Encourage creative practice through technology. (Technology Standards)

11. Have students practice their compositions through photography. (Visual Arts and Media Arts Core Arts Standards)

12. Encourage visual literacy! (ELA Common Core)

Celebrating International Dot Day!

"International Dot Day", a global celebration of creativity, courage and collaboration, began when teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to Peter H. Reynolds’ book The Dot on September 15, 2009.
"The Dot" is the story of a teacher who challenges a doubting student to trust in her abilities  to “make her mark”. What begins with a dot on a piece of paper becomes a breakthrough in confidence, which has gone on to inspire countless children and adults around the globe.

To celebrate, each grade level has created a project that is "dot-like."  Once projects are completed, they will be displayed in the halls of our school!

Some projects took at least 3 class periods to complete, but by the end of September, our school will be filled with dots galore!

This is just the start of the many dots to display!

Kindergarten Dot Paintings

Inspired by the artist George Seurat

Materials

-white paper (any size you wish to cut)

-paint dots (can be found in Nasco, Triarco, or Michael's Arts & Crafts in a hurry)

After showing the painting "Sunday Afternoon" by George Seurat to kindergarten students, I shared how pictures can be made just by using dots.  Using "paint dots," students filled their paper with colorful spots! 

Total time: 1-40 minute class period

1st Grade Mandala Paintings

(Thank you, Cassie Stephens, for your project idea!)

Materials

-small paper plates

-black permanent marker

-neon tempura cakes

-paintbrushes

-water cups

-table clothes

After sharing mandala designs with 1st grade students, we created our own mandala-like designs within a plate and painted with bright colors!

Total project time: 1-40 minute class period

2nd Grade Abstract Drawings

Inspired by the art of Wassily Kandinsky

Materials

-pencils

-white paper (cut to square)

-black markers

-colored markers

-scissors

-glue

-a round container for center circle

Students were introduced to the art of Wassily Kandinsky.  Wassily used many geometric shapes and creative lines to fill his artwork.  2nd graders were asked to do the same, all while listening to music to inspire movement in their drawings!

Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods

3rd Grade Mandala Drawings

Inspired by sand-made mandalas

Materials

-white paper

-pencils

-a round container to trace circles

-black markers

-colored markers

-scissors

-glue

-square colored paper for frame

Students were introduced to sand mandalas.  As nice as it would have been to actually make one with sand, we stuck with drawing our designs and adding bright colors instead.

Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods

4th Grade Metal Relief Dots

(Cassie, I thank you for this idea too!  I had to try it!)

Yes, you can use coins as examples!

Materials

-cardboard or poster board circles

-foam shapes (when I order them now, they are stickers)

-aluminum foil

-spray glue

-permanent color markers

Students were shown examples of metal relief, like coins and jewelry.  Relief is when you have dimension within a flat piece, which creates texture.  When creating their relief, students used foam shapes for the dimension, then (once covered in foil) colored on top with patterns and designs.

Total project time: 1-40 minute class period

5th Grade Radial Symmetry

Inspired by Stained Glass Window Designs

Materials

-black paper (cut into a circle)

-foam shapes (with or without stickers)

-pencil

-colored paper for frame

Students were introduced to radial symmetry.  Examples were shown of many stained glass window designs, as well as kaleidoscope patterns.  Students created their own radial designs (split into four quadrants) using the foam shapes to demonstrate their understanding.

Total project time: 2-40 minute class periods

6th Grade Zentangle Patterns

While searching on Google, I came across tons of zentangle patterned circles.  This was not my image, but I'm using it as an example of what I wanted my students to create.  So to the original artist, you inspired us!  Thank you!

Materials

-white paper circle

-pencil

-skinny black marker

-zentangle pattern packet with examples

-colored markers

-colored paper for frame

Students were shown zentangle pattern examples and where they may find patterns in the commercials they watch or the clothing they wear.  Students create their own zentangle pattern circles, teaching them patience and care with overlapping patterns.

Total project time: 3-40 minute class periods.  The students LOVED their work!

What did you do for International Dot Day?