3D Paper Animal Masks

Submitted by: Flarnie Marchan
Grade level / Age: 5th-8th grade

Goals / Objectives

Learn how to reduce an observed form to basic shapes.
-Begin to understand working from a model.
-Show good craftsmanship in cutting shapes and affixing them cleanly.
-Using symmetry.

Materials Needed:

• Pictures of animal faces (for inspiration/modeling) from National Geographic, Calendars, or the internet.

• Large sheets of Construction Paper (12"x18" or 30.5 x 46 cm ), in all colors, about 3 of each color or more.

• Smaller pieces of colorful paper and scraps of Construction Paper or cardstock.
  

• Pieces of Poster Board or thick cardstock, for the backing of the mask.

• 

  Scissors (for each student)

• White Glue

• Masking Tape

• Rulers (for each student)

Lesson Description:

1. Introduce the project
Ask students if they have ever made a mask before, and what their experiences were. Talk about their favorite animals, and find images of those animals. Draw their attention to the symmetry in masks and real faces. Show partially completed examples and demonstrate techniques for creating different 3D shapes with paper. Make small-scale models for students to reference when trying the techniques themselves. (Vocabulary- Mask, 3D, Symmetry)

2. Creating Masks
Students should start with two large sheets of the same color as the base of their mask. They should cut and plan their mask before starting to tape and glue, making sure they have matching features (more or less) for both sides of the mask. Remind them to add 3-D elements and use symmetry.

3. Clean Up
Save at least 10 minutes for clean-up, because you will likely have a wealth of tiny paper scraps on the floor and table after this project. Engage students who are finished in tidying, collecting large scraps to save, and sweeping up small scraps.

Assessment(s):

Did the students finis a mask using cleanly cut and glued pieces of paper?
Did they use shapes to abstract the forms of an animal face?
Did they incorporate 3-D elements into their mask design?
Did they use symmetry in part of their mask?

Resources:

• Animal Faces: 15 Punch-Out Animal Masks - This book has ready-made animal masks that you punch out. Use this to get ideas going or as examples only. You will want students to create masks on their own.

• Complete Book of Paper Mask Making - This do-it-yourself guide gives detailed instructions for making paper masks — how to cut, fold, score, model, paint, and decorate them. Make masks of people, clowns, birds, and animals: lion, cat, dog, fox, bear, monkey, more. 93 black-and-white illustrations.

• The Usborne Book of Masks - Step-by-step instructions outline simple things to make and do. All projects require minimal supervision. Shopping lists show what is needed for each project

Links:

• African Paper Masks - This lesson on IAD shows additional things you can do with paper.

• Paper Animal Masks - This is a gallery of animal paper masks on Flickr.

• Mrs. Grondin's Student Mask Page - This page has a variety of masks done in different media.