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

All articles and lesson plans are copyrighted 2018 by Grimm

Craft Papier-mâché Puzzle Cones

My finished version of puzzle Ice Cream Cones.

       I made these puzzle cones to gift to a very special little person. With these simple parts she can mix and match her favorite ice cream flavors: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, lemon, blue berry, rocky road, chocolate chip mint and butter pecan. 

Supply List:

• paper mache pulp
• plastic cones
• masking tape
• variety of acrylic paints
• acrylic spray sealer
• brown paper bags
• a brown permanent felt tip marker
• one-piece wooden clothes pins
• newsprint
• white school glue or Elmer's wood glue

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Wrap both the inside and outside of your plastic cone pieces with masking tape.
2. Squeeze a generous amount of glue into the inside bottom of each cone and stuff newsprint around an inserted clothes pin. You clothes pins need to stick outside of each cone approximately two inches. Let the form dry over night. (see picture below)
3. Cover the entire cone shape and pin sticking out with layers of glue and brown paper bag stripes. Let the forms dry overnight.
4. Crush and shape the scoops of ice cream from newsprint around the tops of the clothes pins. 
5. Mask both the inside hole and the outside ice cream scoop shapes.
6. Using a bit of glue and paper line the interior holes with a dryer finished paper surface and let these shapes dry overnight.
7. Now cover the outside surface of the ice cream scoops with paper mache pulp, following the instructions that come with that art modeling material. Let the scoops dry overnight. It may take longer than 24 hours for these surfaces to dry thoroughly.
8. I drew diamond shapes onto my paper cones using a permanent ink pen, but you can use paint if you prefer.
9. Paint your ice cream scoops to imitate what ever flavor of ice cream you prefer.
10. After the surfaces are dry, seal these with a clear acrylic spray.

"Wrap both the inside and outside of your plastic cone pieces with masking tape."

"Crush and shape the scoops of ice cream from newsprint around the tops of the clothes
 pins. and Mask both the inside hole and the outside ice cream scoop shapes."

The finished puzzle cones are ready for a little girl and her friends to play with!

More Ice Cream Related Content:

• ''You're Sodalicious Valentine!'' - Festive holiday cards kids can make for Saint Valentines Day. + printable, adorable, vintage Valentines 
• Color vintage sweet treats from the ice cream parlor and an ice cream birthday cake for kids to practice their coloring skills.
• How to make ice cream parlor deserts . . .  for your dollhouse

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clip art of native american baskets

       Share with your students a selection of Native American artifacts in a slide show or newsletter or print them out to include in a journal. The following artifacts are from the Chetimacha, Wintun and Tulare tribes. Back to the Index.

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"Sitting" type of cradle used by the Wintun Native Americans of Northern California

Upper, Ancient ceremonial basket of exquisite workmanship
 from Santa Barbara County, California. Lower, Tulare trinket
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Both are in the National Museum.

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