African masks (pre-visit)

This lesson will observe and describe several masks from different parts of Africa housed in the Smithsonian Institute (National Museum of African Art) Washington, D.C. Students will use the internet to view the Smithsonian's virtual exhibits. There are two lessons to follow this pre-visit. In the first, the students will explore African masks at the Ackland Art museum in Chapel Hill. In a culminating activity the students will make their own masks with some personal materials brought from home. (Post-visit activity)

A lesson plan for grade 2 Social Studies

By Debra Johnson-Morse

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Related topics

• Learn more about Africa, arts, culture, masks, social studies, and world cultures.

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Learning outcomes

The student will observe the differences and similarities among African masks. Students will participate in visual and oral activities related to the African masks.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

1 Weeks

Materials/resources

• Pictures of African Masks from various African countries (see Web site below)
• Maps of Africa

Technology resources

Computer (Internet Access)

Pre-activities

The students need to be exposed to maps of Africa in relation to the United States.

Activities

1. Divide students into groups of 4 or 5. The teacher will discuss “similarity” and “difference.”
2. Allow each group to view different pictures of African masks.(use Web site below)
3. Each group will discuss the differences and similarities of the masks. Each group should appoint a recorder and reporter.
4. After reviewing the pictures, one student will record the comments of the group. Another person will report the findings of the group to the whole class.
5. A class discussion about the different African masks will take place.

Assessment

Teacher will lead students into creation of classroom chart. Teacher will collect the recordings of each group.

Students will complete a checklist of each group’s oral presentation.

Supplemental information

Student checklist for oral presentation: Attachment

Related websites

This Web site has various pictures of African masks which are on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute:

http://www.si.edu/nmafa/exhibits/ipi/eastCart/93-4-1.htm

Comments

Visit: Exhibition of African Masks at the Ackland Art Museum

Post-Visit: Create a mask of your Own

The pre-visit took around “two” 1 hour sessions. The students were already divided into four groups when I asked them to view pictures of the African masks from the website. I also printed out pictures of 3 masks for each group.

We talked about similarities and differences and found where the masks were from on maps of Africa. A recorder and reporter were selected for each group, although students had a difficult time remembering the duties of the recorder and reporter.

Students then discussed and recorded the differences and similarties of the masks. The reporters of each group reported and I wrote their responses on the board. Some responses were the same but each group had at least one response that was different. The students enjoyed this activity and were fully engaged when each group reported its responses. Afterwards, each group completed the student evaluation checklist on their own group reporter.