Lesson Plan: Artist Inspired Masks

http://emilyjanevalenza.com/4th-grade/
Materials:
Papier-mch mask forms (or make your own)
Aluminum foil, cardboard, wire, and scrap paper
Hot glue gun (teacher use)
Plaster gauze strips
Water bins
Acrylic paint
Collage and mixed-media materials (depending on chosen
artwork)
Modpodge or clear acrylic glaze for sealing
Instructions:
1. Starting the Lesson: Present a timeline of art movements and
quickly describe the styles present in each era using a
presentation format or book with a small group. With this
refreshed vocabulary, students may search for three inspiration
pieces on Google Art Project, SmArtHistory, and WikiPaintings.
When students have chosen their three art pieces, they can peer
critique choices to narrow down to one final choice.
2. Students will take notes on the history, techniques, and cultures
responsible for their chosen inspiration art piece.
3. Students will then create at least four thumbnail sketches of
possible mask designs incorporating essential elements of their
art piece.
4. Students will critique these sketches with their peers and with
the teacher to determine the most successful concept and take
notes on construction and materials needed for the next steps.
5. Mask forms are altered to fit the final sketched plans using a
variety of recycled materials to build basic forms: aluminum foil,
cardboard, wire, crumpled paper, etc.
6. Once forms are complete, they are covered and smoothed with
plaster gauze strips and left to dry for a few hours or ideally
overnight.
7. Students will complete their masks with a layer that is
appropriate for their chosen art inspiration piece: paint, collage,
modeling paste, natural found
materials, etc.
Differentiated Instruction:
To accommodate students with a special need a variety of
material should be offered. The option to wear gloves is

important for students with a sensory disability. Pictures

and/or video cues for steps are also important to help students
understand what steps to take in order to complete the task.