Practical Explorations

MASKS AT WORK

VIDEO: Twirl Table Talk Show

It's time for the Twirl Table Talk show with Amber and Liana!  Listen in as they explore the practical uses of masks and how lots of jobs have always used masks. Hear from some local New Mexicans and how and why they use masks for their jobs all the time. 

Video Contributors: Dr. Cipry Jaramillo, the Taos Fire Department, Christina Sporrong, Dr. Nicole Lloyd Ronning, Ilan O’Donnell. Images: Windows - Gaurav Bal, Gorge Bridge - BA Babcock from Pixabay

Explore More

POSSIBLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT

PreK - 5th Grade

  • What other kinds of jobs do people have to wear masks?

  • When have you seen someone working in a mask?

  • Why do you think they wore a mask?

  • What did you think of the mask? Did it make you scared, make you laugh…?

  • When do you see masks now? Why are people wearing them?

3rd - 5th Grade

  • Why do some jobs need to use masks?

  • How do the masks look and function for the job?  Why are they like that? 

  • Are they used for all parts of the job or only sometimes? 

  • What are they protecting the worker from?

  • What other jobs can you think of that you need a mask for?

  • What are particles and do we breathe them in? Are they all bad for us? 

  • What are face shields? Are they a kind of mask? 

  • When have you seen someone wearing a mask before COVID-19 times?


EXTENSION ACTIVITIES 

PreK - 5th Grade

  • Choose a mask you’ve learned about and draw the person wearing it and the job they do.

  • Play dress up with masks for jobs.  Make doctor masks, scuba mask, firemen mask, astronaut helmet and play.

  • Make a Venn diagram for two jobs that use masks and compare them.

3rd - 5th Grade

  • Research about a job that uses a mask and do a report. 

  • Recreate one of these masks  with recycled materials or other materials you have.  How does it feel to wear the mask?  What would it be like to wear the mask while doing the job?

  • Write a diary entry for the person who wears the mask and describe a day in their job. 

  • Research and recreate the historic plague masks from a long time ago.  Compare and contrast them with the modern doctor mask.

  • If school has a 3D printer, design and print masks for use today.

  • Conduct a science experiment measuring effectiveness of masks, comparing different kinds and their effectiveness (try blowing out a candle with the masks on) 

  • Interview someone who wears a mask for their job

  • Design a mask for a job (for example, improve upon the scuba mask; what kind of mask will they need on Mars; a mask to change your little brother’s diaper.)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

PreK - 5th Grade

3rd - 5th Grade

Previous

Maker Explorations
Next

Theater Explorations