Lesson: Northwest Aboriginal Art

North American Animal
Masks

Creating plaster masks of north American animals typically seen in northwest coast aboriginal art.. This lesson also could be used to represent the elements of nature, such as fire, the sun, moon or mother nature.

Prototype mask of a wolf by Sinthia Cousineau

Prototype of an aboriginal inspired mask by Sinthia Cousineau

Project Steps

Materials

Color Pencils or Markers
Black Sharpie
Paper
Pencil
Cardboard Pieces
Scissors
Masking Tape
Rolls of Plaster Strips
A container filled with warm water
Paint Brushes
Tempera or Acrylic Paint
Varnish or Gloss Material
Plastic Masks (For special needs or students with limited motor skills)

Lesson Sequence

Day 1: Designing Masks Ideas

1h15mins

Introduction: PowerPoint Presentation on Northwest Aboriginal Culture and Art (15 mins)
Distribution of stencils and materials (5 mins)
Drawing Activity: Designing a frontal and profile view of an aboriginal skilled masked inspired by a particular north American animal or spirit animal (50 minutes)
Drawing a mask idea for representing an element of nature.

Day 2: Making Masks

1h15mins

Demonstration: Creating a masks with cardboard, masking tape and plastic masks, and how to apply plaster.
Prepare masks with cardboard and masking tape to form the shape.
Add plaster strips to mask
Set mask aside to dry
Clean-up: 5-10 minutes to put materials away and wash up.

Student Work: John Grant Highschool
2017

Day 3: Painting Masks

1h15mins

Paint Masks using acrylic or tempera paints and use colors associated with northwest aboriginal painting.
Set Masks aside to dry and work on oral presentation.
Clean-up: 5-10 minutes to put materials away and wash up.

Adding Varnish

Day 4: Oral Presentation

1h15mins

Students will prepare answers to certain questions provided by the teacher regarding their mask projects.
Closure: Students will each present in front of the class their masks and answers to the questions.
Students will critique the works of their peers.

Students wearing their Masks
John Grant High School, 2017

Learning Objectives

To encourage natural storytelling and public speaking skills
To gain a better understanding of Indigenous culture & foster cultural sensitivity
To learn more about North American animals and their symbolism.
To learn about masks and design their own masks.
To learn to appreciate nature

Visual Arts Competencies

To appreciate First Nations artworks
To gain an understanding of the colors used in first nations art
To draw animals as inspired by first nations art
To create aboriginal inspired masks

Cross-Curricular Competencies

To learn about the First Nation Culture and history.
To communicate a story appropriately.
To learn the symbolism associated with each animal
To use the resources available to them.

Vocabulary

Aboriginal: People who are originally native to the land prior to the arrival of colonists.

Indigenous: origination from a particular place; native

First Nations: The first people who lived in North America before the Europeans arrived

Symbolism: The use of symbols to represent ideas, emotions and states of mind.

Motif: A decorative image or design, which could be repeated to form a pattern