Lesson Blueprints
Title of Project: Native American Masks
School District: Richfield Springs Central School
School: Richfield Springs Central School
Standard: The Arts
Class: 8th Grade Art
Teacher: Kristen Kaene
Library Media Specialist: Vicky Johnson
Project Length: Two 40-minute periods, follow-ups as needed
I. Issues for the Teacher
A. What NYS Standard are you working towards in this project?
Standard The Arts #4: Understanding the cultural dimension and contributions of
the arts: Students will develop an understanding of the personal and cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present society.
Key Idea Students will demonstrate the ways in which some particular art works and artifacts reflect important aspects of the diverse culture of the United States.
B. What skill (C-DOS/Information Literacy, etc.) do you want your students to develop as they work on this project?
American Association of School Librarians Standard 5.2: Students derive meaning from information presented creatively in a variety of formats.
C. Describe in some detail what you want your students to do and/or produce in this project that will demonstrate that they are moving toward the standard and developing their skill.
Students will create a mask and related creative work that will show an understanding of a Native American culture.
II. Issues for the Library Media Specialist
A. What instructional strategies will you use to move students toward the standard(s) and skill(s) above?
  • Display and discussion of relevant print and electronic materials.
  • Demonstration of search strategies and web sites.
B. What material/technical support will you provide for the project?
  • Reference materials
  • Appropriate fiction and non-fiction items
  • Computer access to appropriate web sites and other electronic sources of information.
III. Issues for the Teacher and Library Media Specialist
A. What is the question driving the project?
How did the materials the Native Americans used to create masks reflect their regions?
B. The Challenge for Students (What product do you want students to create that will provide evidence they're learning the standard and skill?)
After researching the project question above in the Library Media Center, the students working in groups will create a mural that will include life-size subjects wearing a mask and participate in a ceremony ritual in which such a mask would have been used. As a group, they will decide on
background, masks to be used, colors to be used in the foreground and background. They also will have to create a description card to be placed by their mural describing their piece. Each student will equally participate in this project and be graded accordingly.
C. Product Criteria (What criteria for a product of "good" quality?)

Projects and performances, performed in a timely manner, will accurate reflect the region and culture of the Native American group studied. Other criteria include neatness, correct creation of a display card and equal participation.
D. Standards Criteria (What evidence is needed to determine that the desired standard is being achieved?)
The mural background -- and the life-size subjects and masks in the foreground -- will reflect the culture, era and region of the Native American group that the group is studying. Students will exhibit decision-making skills in choice of color, size, format and appropriate subjects to use.
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