African Masks

African
Masks

7th Grade
GPS Social Studies

From the Encyclopedia Britannica:
"The use of masks is based on social customs, conventions, and religious observances that are common to all mankind. Persons are usually recognized most easily by their faces, and so the face can be thought to represent the whole person. Putting on a mask, then, is often seen as becoming another person or being—replacing one face with another."

1. TASK

Create a mask to represent one of the 5 regions of Africa: North, Central, East, West, South.
You must research your region using the 5 Concepts.
3 of the 5 concepts must be represented in your mask design. (See example - South African Mask)
All 5 concepts must be included in a one-page, informational plaque that will be posted with your mask. This will help our "museum visitors" understand your art!

5 Concepts research questions:

Conflict and Change
- What European countries were involved in my region?
- Did my country experience a nationalistic movement that led to independence? When?
- Has my region experienced civil wars recently? Why?
- What leaders are important to my region?
Culture
- What ethnic groups and/or tribes exist/existed in my region?
- Religious groups? (Arab, Ashanti, Bantu, Swahili)? What are their basic beliefs?
- What is the literacy rate? Why is this important?
Human Environmental Interaction
- What environmental problems exist in my region?
- Human impact?
- Water pollution and distribution of water?
- Soil quality? Deforestation? Desertification?
Location
- What countries are in my region?
- What important physical features are in my region? (Please make sure to include: the Sahara, Sahel, savanna, tropical rain forest, Congo River, Niger River, Nile River, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Atlas Mountains, and Kalahari Desert)
- What climates/biomes are in my region? (desert/rainforest/savannah, etc.)
Interdependency
- What natural resources are in my region? (Gold, diamonds, uranium, and oil)
- What are the exports?
- What countries does my region trade with?

2. FIND INFORMATION

Here are the recommended websites, books, and magazines to help you find the answers to your questions:

Your best resource is your textbook. For additional information:

Encyclopedia Britannica Online (search by country, NOT by region)
World Data Analyst (Ethnic and religious groups, literacy rate, natural resources, exports)
InfoPlease Countries
PBS regions of Africa
ThinkQuest regions of Africa
Environmental Outlook on Africa
Conserve Africa Environment (by country)

Subject books and Encyclopedias available on table/cart!

3. USE INFORMATION

Record your notes using the following Note-taking organizer.
Re-read your notes. Decide on at least 3 concepts to include in your mask design.
Create the informational plaque to hang beside your mask. You should have AT LEAST one handwritten (or 1/2 typed) page about your mask. More importantly, make sure all five Concepts are fully answered. Remember to use transitions to make your writing flow!
As an artist, prepare a short museum lecture on your mask (1-2 minutes). Tell the story of your mask, but remember--it must be based on your research! Also remember that you want to "entertain" your museum visitors. If your lecture is interesting, they will support your art!

4. EVALUATE

Checklist:

Monday-Tuesday	Research the 5 Concepts in the computer lab. If you do not finish your note-taking chart by Tuesday, please complete this for homework! Skim your notes to select at least 3 favorite Concepts to include in your mask.
Wednesday	Sketch a mask design and approve this with your teacher before building your mask. Your teacher will expect you to explain the reason for each part of the design--be ready! Begin working as soon as your design is approved.
Thursday	Mask and informational plaque.
Friday	Mask and informational plaque.

African Mask Rubric - Use this Rubric to check your work BEFORE you begin and BEFORE you turn in your final product!

	Exceeds	Meets	Barely Meets	Does Not Meet
Ideas (40 pts)	My mask creatively demonstrates 3 of the 5 Concepts. My information paper covers all 5 Concepts completely. I am able to fully describe my mask design to the museum audience.	My mask demonstrates 3 of the 5 Concepts. My information paper covers all 5 Concepts. I am able to describe my mask design to the museum audience.	My mask has 2 of the 5 Concepts. My information paper covers 3-4 Concepts. I am able to describe some of my mask design to the museum audience.	My mask is not based on any of the 5 Concepts. My information paper covers less than 3 Concepts. I cannot describe my design to the museum audience.
	40 36	35 32	31 28	24
Organization (20 pts)	My notes on the 5 Concepts are organized neatly in the note-taking chart. I completed a detailed mask design BEFORE I began working on the final product.	My notes on the 5 Concepts are organized in the note-taking chart. I completed a mask design BEFORE I began working on the final product.	Some of my notes on the 5 Concepts are listed in the note-taking chart. I completed a mask design after I began working on the final product.	I did not organize my notes into the note-taking chart. I did not complete a mask design before I began working on the final product.
	20 18	17 16	15 14	12
Style (20 pts)	My mask is creative and unique. I am able to discuss each design on my mask with interesting facts and/or stories. The museum visitors enjoy listening to my explanation of the design.	My mask is creative. I am able to discuss each design on my mask with some facts and/or stories. The museum visitors enjoy listening to my explanation of the design.	My mask is somewhat creative. I am able to explain some of the designs with a few facts. The museum visitors are somewhat bored listening to my explanations of the design.	My mask did not creatively express 3 of the 5 Concepts. I was not able to explain any of the designs with facts or stories. The museum visitors fell asleep listening to my explanations of the design.
	20 18	17 16	15 14	12
GUMS (20 pts)	I took risks in sentence structure and complexity in my information plaque. I chose the best sentence formation to convey my meaning. I made some errors in my draft but these were corrected in my final edit.	I made some errors, perhaps by taking risks and using interesting words or sentences. I usually chose the best sentence formation to convey my meaning.	My spelling is correct on common words. Some errors in grammar and punctuation. Little risks were taken in sentence formation and structure.	Frequent errors are distracting.
	20 18	17 16	15 14	12