African masks from recycled materials: milk jug construction

Different stages of this mask craft photographed.

 

Title: African Masks From Recycled Materials: Milk Jug Construction

 

Topic: recycling, African culture

 

Goals and Objectives:

• Students will make three-dimensional masks representing elements and principles of design used by African indigenous cultures.
• Students will use recycled materials to construct an original mask.
• Students will conduct research in the library or computer lab.

Grade: 9^th – 12^th

 

Length of Class Period: 55 minutes

 

Frequency of Class Period: five days a week

 

Time Needed: six class periods

 

The following materials needed per student: empty clean milk jug, sharp scissors, masking tape,

newsprint, white school glue, paint, a craft knife, Mod Podge, elements and trims to paste onto the masks as desired.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Research African, tribal masks online or at your local library to find various materials depicting the mask you will used as reference for this assignment. You do not need to duplicate what you find, you need only to educate yourself about the general construction and uses of these indigenous artifacts.
   
2. Clean out an average sized, plastic milk carton using soap and water. 
3. Let the carton drain of all it's fluid upright in a drying rack over night.
4. Turn the carton upside down with the handle facing you. This will be the front of your mask. Cut off the backside of the carton carefully at the side seams using a craft knife to start the initial cut, and then switch to scissors to remove the rest of the plastic material.  
5. Using masking tape and newspaper or newsprint, add on features to the front of the mask to give it dimension, unity, and unique features. 
6. After adding these elements, mask the entire surface both inside and out using the tape.
7. Proceed to dip newspaper strips into a wheat paste mixture and cover all of the masked surfaces. Let the mask dry.
8. Paint the surfaces and add more distinct trims.
9. Mod Podge everything. 

Vocabulary/Terminology:

• Indigenous - are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory.
• Tribe - A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.
• Mask - a protective covering worn over the face
• Culture - the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group

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