BOX OF MAGICAL MASKS

POSSIBLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT

PreK - 5th Grade

• What kinds of masks did you see in the video?

• What are some reasons that people in the video wear masks?

• Have you ever seen anyone wearing masks like this in real life? Share about it.

• Does it look fun to wear masks?

• What are the different masks made of?

• Which one did you like the best?

3rd - 5th grade

• What are some of the different occasions for wearing masks?

• How do different masks affect the wearer?

• How do you think people feel when they put on masks?

• Do you think people act differently when they have a mask on?

• Are these masks art?

• Have you ever seen masks hanging in a house as art? Or used for decorations?

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES 

PreK - 5th Grade

• Identify and discuss the different materials used to create masks from all over the world. And why they use the materials they do.

• Make animal masks and put them on, using the different masks, act or move how your mask makes you feel.

• Have the class decide on something important to them like snack time, or recess, or story time and create masks to use during this ritual.

• If you have any masks at home put them on, does it make you want to move a certain way?

• Put on a mask and dance, talk about how it feels to dance with the mask and without

• Read folktales from different countries and how masks might fit into the stories and help with the telling.

3rd - 5th Grade

• Write a short story about a character behind a mask and the powers the mask gives, what the mask hides or who the mask protects.  Or write about the mask maker and why they are special. 

• Discuss countries and continents. Identify different places and their masks.

• Compare and contrast masks from different countries.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

PreK - 5th Grade

• THE BEST website to dive deeper into masks, with interactive map for discovering masks from all over the world and videos featuring all sorts of beautiful masks https://www.maskmuseum.org/

• Video about the continents and learning about the globe.  Know your globe: SciShow Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7k7CeWDtWs

• What will you see when you go on an African Safari with Ms. Amber? Twirl Taos- Theater Play Live Class “On Safari”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4XFTjPAgvw

• African dance for preschoolers with Twirl Taos  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zT7ZUM9SDk&list=PLs69-lgDKXimJYAGdcUJcxq381k8mKFGH&index=12

3rd - 5th Grade

• A digital magazine article about masks from all around the world. https://www.newsweek.com/2020/07/03/look-cultural-masks-around-world-1513172.html

• https://allthatsinteresting.com/colorized-native-american-masks. Native American tribes have historically placed great significance on masks. Read how their masks are used in many aspects of tribal life, including spiritual ceremonies, storytelling, traditional dances, and much more.

• An article describing how Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest used masks to transform.   https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/indigenous-americas-apah/north-america-apah/a/transformation-masks

• Short article giving a few reasons why Mayans used mask. https://www.artifactcollectors.com/why-did-mayans-wear-masks-530.html

• An exploration about African masks with short explanations about making, materials, uses, patterns and styles.  https://www.artyfactory.com/africanmasks/

• A basic powerpoint presentation about West African masks. https://www.slideshare.net/mrsbauerart/west-african-masks

• A powerpoint with many images and videos of masks in Africa.  https://www.tes.com/lessons/tAffwmFdAlwI_Q/c-african-masks lessons by Trudy Johnson

• This multicultural lesson has examples of masks used for religion, for entertainment and for cultural instruction. Cultures discussed include, indigenous, Japanese, Indonesian European and African masks https://www.clevelandart.org/learn/in-the-classroom/art-to-go/masks-around-world

SUPER MASKS

POSSIBLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT

PreK - 5th Grade

• What superheroes can you think of who wear a mask?  Why do they wear it? Do they need it?

• Who is your favorite superhero? What do you like about them? Do they wear a mask and how does it help them?

• Have you ever worn a mask? For Halloween maybe or another event?

• How did wearing a mask make you feel?

• Is it fun to transform or pretend while wearing a mask?

• Why is it important that a mask covers a hero/villain's face?

• Who might you be trying to protect by wearing a mask?

3rd - 5th Grade

• What happens if you change your voice, posture or attitude while wearing a mask?

• Does a mask give you power or protection?

• Why is it important that a mask covers a hero/villain's face?

• Superheroes often wear masks to protect others. Who are you trying to protect by wearing a mask today?

• If you made a mask with a super power- what would you make? Why would you make this mask? How do you think it would make you feel?

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES 

PreK - 5th grade

• Join Marvin in his mask as he attempts to use his superpowers to crack open a nut in this animated video story written by Twirl’s Amber Vasquez and illustrated by Adelaide Driver.

• Create your own superhero power and share about it and make a mask for it. 

• Choose two superheroes and create a Venn diagram for them.

• Create a Lucha Libre mask.  What would you transform or change into with the help of the mask?

3rd - 5th Grade

• Write a short story about a character behind a mask and the powers the mask gives, what the mask hides or who the mask protects.

• Read aloud some masked hero or heroine books. Taos Library has The Princess in Black series and many other possibilities.

• Read a graphic novel with masked characters. 

• Discuss types of heroes, define and give examples from real life, literature or pop culture.

• Create your own superhero power and write your story

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

PreK - 5th Grade

• Video about wearing masks today and being a superhero by wearing one.  Heroes Wear Masks: Community Health Network https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqaVimRD330

• Taos Public Library online search engine to look for superhero or mask books https://www.taosgov.com/151/Library

3rd - 5th Grade

• A brief history of Lucha Libre: http://maskalucha.com/history-of-lucha-libre.aspx

• What does a hero sound like?  https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/ypc/summon-the-heroes/

• Maskmaking, Art and Culture: Lesson Plans Inspired by Felipe Horta.  This guide provides teachers with multiple hands-on and low-cost methods for implementing maskmaking within the classroom. https://laii.unm.edu/info/k-12-educators/curriculum/maskmaking.html