Papermache Masks-- 3rd and 4th grade

This is an art project that I repeat every year, because it is such a great process for the kids... starting with an initial sketched idea, building an armature, applying paper mache, painting and adding embellishments.  I tie this lesson to the Pacific Northwest Coast masks.

You can see masks from previous years here and the process photos here.
 

Thank you if you voted for me in the Art Ed blog of the year contest!  While I did not place in the top ten, I was honored just to be in the running.  Thanks for reading my blog and interacting with me!

I'm on Twitter now! What will I say? Maybe I will share more fun things I come across on the internet.   Join me!

 Follow @marcia_beckett

Alaskan Masks-- 2nd Grade

The 2nd graders have been learning about the characteristics and functions of Alaskan masks as well as the cultural traditions of Native Alaskans.  They made a 3-D mask using typical characteristics--- animal or human features, fur, feathers, appendages, hoops around the mask.

Mask Love!

I love these masks!

Pacific Northwest Coast Masks-- third/fourth grades

The third/fourth grade classes made paper mache masks.  We used inspiration from the Pacific Northwest Coast masks and viewed a video about their culture.  Here are the steps we used.

Start with a papermache mask form (we used some from Nasco). Then, add appendages with newspapers, LOTS of masking tape, pieces of cardboard, yogurt containers, etc.

So much fun to build up a mask!

After all the parts are very secured with tape (and I mean lots of tape, MORE is better for this project), then add pieces of newspaper strips dipped in paper mache.  We used powdered Elmer's Art Paste.

Paper maching!

Lots of paper mache.  The kids made sure to cover their mask with one or two layers.

ewww.. it's so goopy!  Some of the kids used plastic gloves because they did not like the feel of it.

Paint the masks with acrylic paints.  The children used reference sheets with Pacific Northwest Coast designs on them.  After the paint is dry, hot glue on fur, feathers or raffia

Clay African Masks-- 3rd grade

 

For this project, we drew African masks and then constructed them from slabs of clay.  These were painted with acrylic paints and then sprayed with varnish.