School Library Monthly - Social Studies: Learning about African Countries through Masks

Into the Curriculum

School Library Monthly/Volume XXVII, Number 5/February 2011

Social Studies:
Learning about African Countries through Masks

by Jean Pallett

Jean Pallett is a school librarian at Corkran Middle School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Glen Burnie, MD. Email: cpallett@aacps.org. She collaborated with classroom teacher Carol Brinkley on this lesson plan. Email: cbrinkley@aacps.org.

Motivate students to research an African country by planning a museum of African masks. Through the process of this unit, students are using note taking skills as they identify and extract relevant information. They then synthesize the information to design a mask relevant to the country being researched. The masks they create will represent the information found in their research. A description of the country and an explanation of the mask will accompany their project when displayed in the museum.

Information Literacy/Inquiry Objectives:

Connecting to AASL's Standards for the 21st Century Learner:

Find, evaluate, and select appropriate sources to answer questions (1.1.4).
Demonstrate mastery of technology tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry (1.1.8).
Organize knowledge so that it is useful (2.1.2).
Conclude an inquiry- based research process by sharing new understandings and reflecting on the learning (3.1.1).

Curriculum (subject area) Objectives:

Maryland State Curriculum: Social Studies, Grade 7:

Apply understandings of the elements of culture to the studies of modern world regions, such as art, music, religion, government, social structure, education, values, beliefs, and customs (2.1.a).

Grade Level: 7

Resources:

Web Site:
CultureGrams. ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University, 2010. http://online.culturegrams.com/

Books:
Nonfiction books about African countries
Encyclopedias

Materials:
PowerPoint presentation
Research grid
Assignment sheet
Rubric

Instructional Roles:

The classroom teacher and school librarian determine the requirements of the project and create the rubric for grading.

Classroom Teacher: Prior to having the students research their countries in the library, the classroom teacher will teach the students about African masks. Students will also choose an African country for their research.

School Librarian: Create the PowerPoint presentation to be used to introduce the project. Create the research grid for students to use for recording information during research. Identify print materials and bookmark any Web sites to be used by students. Review with the students the use of the approved Internet sources.

Procedures for Completion:

Prior to coming to the library, the classroom teacher introduces the unit on Africa, teaches the students about African masks, and identifies the African country each student will research.

When the students come to the library, the school librarian uses the PowerPoint presentation to introduce the assignment (see African Mask Introduction and African Mask Assignment Overview, below). The requirements of the unit are explained with the Rubric (see Rubric for African Mask Project, below) and examples of masks are shared.

Examples of African Masks

African Mask Introduction (PowerPoint presentation)

African Mask Assignment Overview

You will be creating a mask to display in a museum setting. The mask will represent important information you learn about your African country in your research. It can be completely abstract or represent a human’s head or an animal’s head.

Step 1. Decide on a purpose for your mask. Here are some suggestions:

Prevent danger
Welcome visitors
Warn of danger
Hunt animals
Heal
Show pride
Tell a story

Step 2. Sketch your mask. Be sure to include pictures or words that represent information about your research. For example, your mask could look like an animal that lives in that country and parts of the mask could also have hair to represent the grass in the grasslands. Or the mask can be abstract, which would have a design not depicting a recognizable face.

Step 3. Create your mask.

Step 4. With your mask, your project must include an explanation of the design. This will be included in the museum display. Here are the things you must include in your summary:

Part 1. Describe the country this mask represents. Include the information you found in your research.
Part 2. Explain the purpose of the mask and how it represents the country. This can be either a sketch that serves as a key, or a written explanation.

Rubric for African Mask Project

The school librarian reviews how to use the research grid to record information, and shows the students the resources recommended for this project (see African Mask Research Grid: Click here for reproducible worksheet (PDF)).

The students research information about their African countries, recording the information on the research grids.

Independently, the students use the information found in research to create the masks. They are also required to write about their country and provide an illustration or a written explanation of the design of the mask.

Upon completion, the masks are to be displayed in the library (the museum) with the description of the country and the explanation of the mask. Classes are invited to come to the "museum" to view the masks and hear the students tell about the masks.

Student Assessment/Evaluation:

Assessment is based on the points assigned on the rubric (see Rubric for African Mask Project, above).

Professional Reflection:

The students were extremely motivated to do this project because the research was meaningful. They knew the quality of their masks depended on finding a lot of information. Furthermore, the students enjoyed displaying their masks and talking to the visitors about their projects. I could see that they were very proud of the work they had done.