Masks
Grade: 5th
Time: 4-1/2 hours
Project submitted by: Diane Papageorge, Ft. Zumwalt Art Instructor Grades 3-5, O’Fallon, MO.
Terms: Sculpture, Pattern, Texture
Lesson Plan Ideas
Lesson Plan Idea: This project uses items that might otherwise end up in landfills, so not only is it a fun project to make, it’s a great way to teach kids about helping save the Earth with waste reduction.
Materials Needed:
Day 1:
- Milk Jug cut in half (1/2 per student, extras kept for students who forget)
- Objects to attach to jug (laundry detergent scoops, hair spray can lids, laundry bottle caps, toilet paper rolls, etc.)
- Masking tape
Day 2:
- 2" x 6" strips of Plast’r Craft® – 20 lb. box per class
- Water in small bowls
- Newspaper covering desks
*This is done in the regular classroom and takes 1-1/2 hours
Day 3:
- Tempera paint mixed with acrylic polymer
- Brushes
- Newspaper
Day 4:
- Extension cords
- At least 16 Mini-low temp glue guns and trays
- Low temp hot glue sticks – 60 each class
- Scissors
- Items students collected for decoration: jewels, feathers, foam shapes, pom pons, wiggly eyes, Mardi Gras beads, puff paint
Project Steps:
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Step 1:
Students will be required to collect an empty milk jug. The students will have a parent cut the jug. The jug is cut down the side seam, so that the handle side of the jug can be used for the mask. This is the side the students will want to use. If someone forgets their milk jug, then the back side will be used. To finish cutting the milk jug, a wire cutter must be used to cut the bottom of the jug. This is too strong for regular scissors. Students should then wash the jug completely. It may be put in the dishwasher, but could melt if it goes through the heat drying cycle.
Day 1: When the project begins, students will attach items to their jug with masking tape. The length of a piece of tape to attach objects should be about 3 inches. Half of the length of tape will be placed securely on the object, the other half secures the object to the mask. Four pieces of tape should be used to attach each object. The teacher will remind the students not to tape on tape, and not to use pieces that are too small. All edges should be secure and flat. The taped masks will be stored in the regular classroom.
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Step 2:
Day 2: Two layers of Plast’r Craft® will cover the mask. The first layer will go in one direction, and the second will go in the opposite direction. One Plast’r Craft® strip should be carefully dipped into the water bowl, running it up the inside of the bowl to remove excess water. Too much water will weigh down the mask. The pieces of Plast’r Craft® should be smoothed out, to remove the holes in the gauze, so the surface can be easily painted the next class. Newspaper will cover the working surface for the students. The masks will be stored to dry before the next class period.
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Step 3:
Day 3: The teacher will show the students they can use their pencil and draw decoration on the mask since they will be able to use two colors. The paint should be applied very thick to cover the white plaster. All little holes should be filled in as well. Smooth the paint in one direction after it fills the holes. When finished with the first color, the second color will be applied. The masks will be stored to dry.
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Step 4:
Day 4: The last class period, the students will add decorations to their masks with the suggested items. These are items the students may bring or may use items the teacher has. These items will be hot glued on the mask. The last 10 minutes of class, all the students will use puff paint to add patterns on the mask. Puff paint should only be on the painted mask surface and not to the feathers, pom pons or pipe cleaners.