Create Your Own African Mask

This Black History art project teaches symmetrics. I have done this project with young students and Special Education students in grades 3,4,5, and 6 with great success! The good thing about this art project is that it is almost "goof proof" and you probably already have the materials needed on hand in your room.

 

For each student you will need:

 

-1 Large piece construction paper (a light color)

-crayons

-scissors (you may need to do the cutting after dried.)

-black tempra paint

-paint brush

 

Teacher will use stapler later after mask is finished if step 6 is

desired and glue if step 7 is desired.

 

Steps:

 

1. Fold paper in half, lengthwise.

 

2. Tell students that whatever they draw on one half must be the same on

the other half. First they need to draw half of the oval shape on one

side and then on the other for the shape of the mask. (If your students

are very young, you may need to have previously traced the large oval on

the paper). Then the teacher can also demonstrate by making an eye and/or

facial symbol design (ie. lightning bolt, wavy lines, filled in circles,

zigzags), on one side of cheek or forehead and then repeat drawing it on

the other half of the paper in the exact same way.

 

3. Students must color heavily since they will be black-paint-washing it

afterwards and the paint will only stick where there are no heavy crayon

markings. (Don't forget to color the whites of the eyes unless you want

them to be black - also, coloring the whites of the eyes yellow can be

very interesting!

 

4. Then brush with rather thin black paint - do not scrub paint on,

rather brush on lightly.

 

5. When dry, cut out.

 

6. This step is optional. When dried, make 2 slits about 2 inches or so

long - one at forehead and one at chin, then pull the two tabs over

each other and staple to give it a 3-D look.

 

7. This step is optional also, but really helps to dress up the mask

even more. Back the mask on colored paper to frame it - so to speak and

then display and enjoy the compliments!!

 

Suggestion:

 

You may want to use old crayons that you have because the

children need to press firmly and for some children it can be upsetting

when their crayons break so easily. Also it is a good idea to walk

around and check to make sure they ARE pressing firmly AND filling in

the areas that they DO want colored and not painted black. Light

coloring results in black paint sticking to it and the design is covered

up and lost. You may want to demonstrate this as you are introducing

this African History/Math/Art lesson.

Have fun! 

This activity was submitted by Liz. Thanks!

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