Artistically, masks are among the most remarkable objects created by traditional civilizations. Here is a fun way for your students to make false faces.
What You Need:
Heavy paper (poster paper, bristol board) about 22" x 28" per student (can be smaller sheets depending on what's available. A smaller sheet means a smaller mask)
Pencils
Scissors (and help for the little ones)
A Paper Stapler
Crayons (the brighter the better ... if you have those new "glow in the dark" crayons ... super!)
(optional) Black tempera paint (a thin water-based paint).
Paintbrushes
Containers for water
Markers
Feathers, glitter and other found objects (optional)
Glue
String
What You Do:
Draw an oval shape on your large piece of paper. The larger the better ... masks can cover more then just the face.
Cut the oval shape out of the paper.
At both the top and bottom of the oval, make a 1" cut. (You will later take these cuts, fold the paper across itself and staple so the mask has some dimension).
Draw and cut out where the eye holes and mouth and nose holes (if any) are going to be.
Decorate the mask by using bright crayon colours. Press hard so the colour is nice and bold.
(OPTIONAL) Using the black (or other dark colour) tempera, do a light wash across the crayons. The crayon areas will resist the paint and "shine" through. Let dry.
Now, where you made you made your cuts, fold the paper and staple in place. This will give your mask more dimension.
Glue any decorations you wish on the mask (although with the crayons and paint, it probably won't need much else.)
Staple string onto the mask so it can be tied around the head.
KinderArt® Lesson/Activity 
