This "Theme Page" has links to information about Masks. Students and teachers will find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials (lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme. Please read our disclaimer.

About.com

Mask Appeal Part 1

A collection of links to web sites on masks integrated within a narrative article about their history and use in various cultures. There are also samples from various artists.

Mask Appeal Part 2

The second part of this article explores the history of the mask in theatre, identifies various artists who make performance arts masks, and examines the methods used to create them .

ArtStart - Three Dimensional Mask Making

This art activity will provide an opportunity for students to explore 3 dimensional art making to express personal, community, familial, or societal identity and meaning.

Cultural Dimensions of Art

A lesson plan in which high school students investigate the reasons for the universal appeal of mask making. After studying the use of masks in various cultures, students create their own mask.

Jr. High/Middle School Lessons

This page from The Incredible Art Department has three briefly described lessons for using masks with junior high or middle school students. Look for "Meaningful Masks", "More than Masks", and "Masks and More Masks".

[The] Mask: A West African Ceremonial Object

A teaching unit for middle school students which explores the interaction of art and culture, specifically the role of tribal masks within the West African culture. In addition to the study of the history of the West African mask (e.g., the carver, mask designs, magical mask functions, agricultural rituals), the unit contains suggested activities, lesson plans, and lists of required materials.

Mask Making

Another site with instructions on how to make a plaster mask. Caution: care must be taken to ensure student hair and eyes are not damaged.

Mask Making Basics

Step by step instructions for making a liquid latex mask. Sculpting, mold making and casting skills will be required and this likely makes this site appropriate only for advanced students.

Masks

An article from the Milwaukee Public Museum giving the history of masks from an anthropological perspective.

Masks.org

A comprehensive metalist site of links to web sites on masks. Categories include: artists, galleries, horror/Halloween, lesson plans, materials, and papier mâché. There's also a mask art gallery, bibliographic database, and an atlas of various world cultures at the site.

Masks That Link Craft and History

A brief article on Mexican masks with four pictures (follow the link at the bottom of the page).

[A] Milliner's Approach to Maskmaking: Part 1

Instructions on how to construct a mask from buckram and using a plaster face casting. (The article makes reference to a Part 2 to the article but this was not found on the web.)

Nigeria: Traditional African Masks

Select the 20th activity on this lesson plan on Nigeria to find brief instructions on how to create a papier mâché African mask.

Noh Mask Exhibition

Noh drama is one of Japan's oldest theatre forms. Highly stylized, the actors wear masks and the dance-movements are performed slowly. The actor is able to convey emotion, in part, by making a slight change in the angle of the mask. This site has an explanation and photos of Noh and the Noh masks. You may have to scroll to the right hand side of the page for English text.

Planetpals - Paper Mâché Recipes

Make your own ornaments or other fun projects using recyled papers. There are three different paper mache recipes in this site and a pdf file with 9 colourful models for projects to make..

[The] Power of Masks

A lesson plan in which elementary students move through learning centre activities focussing on painted faces, masks for disguise and deception, masks for magic, and animal masks.

Richard Hunt

Learn about Richard Hunt, a contemporary Kwakiutl artist from BC, and his "Transformation Mask." This link is to a page describing the background to the artwork. At the bottom of the page, click on "About the Artist" to learn more about Richard Hunt. The button "Discussion/Activities" leads to suggestions for studying the work in the classroom in a multidisciplinary approach.

They Put on Masks

An Ask Eric lesson plan outline for middle school students in art history.

U'Mista Cultural Centre Potlatch Collection

Images of more than 100 masks from Kwak'wala speaking aboriginal groups in the North West coast and BC interior along with information on their provenance.

Why Do People Wear Masks

This lesson plan from the Teacher's Corner first examines examples of masks on the Internet. Students then design their mask, make a papier mâché model, and then decorate it.

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of information about Masks. For other resources in Fine Arts (e.g., curricular content in Art, Music, Drama, Dance, etc), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.