Pine Street School
K - 7 Art Teacher
Children's Museum of Manhattan
Education Coordinator / Museum Education Supervisor
The children's museum of pittsburgh
Arts and making educator for museum visitors of all ages
fairfield east elementary school
Grades K-4 in Fairfield, Ohio: Student Teaching Part 1
Fairfield freshman high school
Grade 9 in Fairfield, Ohio: Student Teaching Part 2
Sweetwater center for the arts
Ages 4-6 and 7-10 summer camp art classes
Saturday Art
1st and 2nd grade art classes
Ridgeway Elementary: Facial Proportions pixel portraits
6th grade mathematics integrated lesson plan
Paint the tavern
"Painting with a Twist" adult painting class
Girl scout leadership conference: Mask-making workshop
On February 15th, five classmates and I traveled to Blue Ash, Cincinnati, to give a mask-making workshop to a group of 30 girl scouts grades 6-12. Our main theme involved celebration, masks, and specifically celebration of self-expression. Furthermore, we highlighted on time-management, vision, and inspiration. Much preparation went into this event in that we put together a formal lesson plan, powerpoint, and gathered various supplies including the example masks we made ahead of time. Our powerpoint was a key element to our lesson, but due to technical difficulties, we were not able to present it. However, our group did a great job presenting the visual culture, historical and multicultural examples, and step-by-step process of mask-making. We engaged the students in a discussion regarding celebration and the relevance of masks in celebrations. Our energy allowed the students to feel comfortable and willing to participate in the discussion as well as the activity. Other students provided wonderful explanations of cultural components of masks including Chinese cultural masks, and Day of the Dead.
Our original plan was to set up stations within the room and separate the students by middle and high school, however, the room was set up with three large round tables that sat 10 people to a table. Because of this, we decided to preset all of the supplies for 10 people at each table. Our mask theme they were making involved the celebration of themselves, therefore we prompted the students to first jot down characteristics they feel exemplify them. This engaged conversations and reflection of themselves, something we hoped would occur. Because our inspiration pictures weren't able to be viewed, the students were allowed to use their smart phones as a means of inspiration regarding masks and designs. When they began drawing their preliminary sketch for the mask, some students struggled while others were at an advantage. We did a great job encouraging the hesitant students with their drawing, and we drew examples of particular designs for some students. The trickiest part of the whole process was cutting out their design with all three layers, the drawing paper, the plastic wrap, and the mesh, staying together. We gave mini demos for each step at all three tables rather than announcing it to all three tables, something we could think about changing in the future. Once we managed to prepare their masks, the painting brought the masks to life. Many people really expanded their creative boundaries and made very interesting masks. We successfully accomplished our goal as teachers because the masks were drying with decorations when we left.
Our original plan was to set up stations within the room and separate the students by middle and high school, however, the room was set up with three large round tables that sat 10 people to a table. Because of this, we decided to preset all of the supplies for 10 people at each table. Our mask theme they were making involved the celebration of themselves, therefore we prompted the students to first jot down characteristics they feel exemplify them. This engaged conversations and reflection of themselves, something we hoped would occur. Because our inspiration pictures weren't able to be viewed, the students were allowed to use their smart phones as a means of inspiration regarding masks and designs. When they began drawing their preliminary sketch for the mask, some students struggled while others were at an advantage. We did a great job encouraging the hesitant students with their drawing, and we drew examples of particular designs for some students. The trickiest part of the whole process was cutting out their design with all three layers, the drawing paper, the plastic wrap, and the mesh, staying together. We gave mini demos for each step at all three tables rather than announcing it to all three tables, something we could think about changing in the future. Once we managed to prepare their masks, the painting brought the masks to life. Many people really expanded their creative boundaries and made very interesting masks. We successfully accomplished our goal as teachers because the masks were drying with decorations when we left.