6th grade Greek Masks

Sixth grade is learning paper mache techniques through making Greek Masks. We talked about the Greek Theatre, and the difficulty of reaching out to thousands of people in a performance. Without speakers and microphones, how does the audience know what is going on? The answer is in the masks. The mouths form tiny megaphones that amplify the sound. On the front of the masks, symbols tell the audience who the character is, so they never need to worry about heros vrs. evil-doers.

After studying the proportions of the face, students worked on created exaggerated expressions on their masks. They used paper pulp and paper mache strips to form cheek bones, chins and forheads that stick out. They looked at the lines muscles made when people frowned and the swinty eyes that form when cheeks push up into the eye socket space.

After designing their masks, they decorated them with tissue paper and paint for skin color and an assortment of feathers, beads, cloth and yarn for hair and additional decorations.