Heritage Month Lesson Plan: Logan Bateman

Grade Level and Content Area: Fifth

Heritage: Native American Month :November
Nevada State Content Standards:
➢ G6.5.3 Provide examples of cultural identity in communities or regions from
different perspectives.
➢ 4.0 Students understand the visual arts in relation to history and cultures.
➢ (5)2.1 examine historical/cultural context, e.g., categorize works of art according
to culture, time, or place [NS 4.5.2]

Objective(s):
● Name Native American tribes and some of their traditions.
● Relate the traditions involving Native American masks to making one’s own mask.
● Build a mask based on a chosen theme and also based upon other Native American
masks.
INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY: (Connect to prior knowledge—or create new knowledge)
● The teacher will begin the lecture by asking the students some questions:
○ Who here has any Native American family or ancestry?
○ Does anyone know any Native American tribes?
○ What are some Native American traditions? (Ex. Cherokee, Blackfoot,
Shoshone, etc.
● The teacher will then show some pictures of Native American masks. (In
materials)
● The teacher will ask if the students see any patterns or themes in the masks.
(Animals, nature, etc.)
● The teacher will then explain some Native American traditions:
○ Native Americans would often perform dances for different occasions and
celebrations.
○ Native Americans believed in living a simple life and often chose to live off
of the land.
○ They also celebrated many different festivals, like the Green Corn
Festivals which celebrated the ripening of crops.
○ Some tribes also preformed Vision Quests were quests for young tribe
members to make contact with their guardian spirits.
○ During festivals Native Americans would often wear masks called Dance
Masks or used Dance Fans.
LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
● The teacher will begin by passing out a white plastic mask to each student.
● The teacher will then present their own Native American Dance Mask (sample)
so the students have and idea on how to create their own masks.
● After receiving the mask the students will then be allowed to decorate them.
● The teacher should remind the students that they should try to cover the whole
mask.
● The students will have a wide variety of craft-related objects to choose from.
● The teacher will then tell the students to try and give their mask a theme based
upon nature or Native American culture. (However, it can be based on some
 modern concept as well)
● The first step the students must take is to pick a material like foam, leather,
fabric, or ect. to cover the majority of their mask.
● Hot glue guns will be shared among students to create their masks.
● As the students work the teacher will explain the reasons masks were used and
created for in Native American society:
○ Masks were all used in ceremonies.
○ Represented Native American ideals, spirits/religious figures, or
characteristics.
○ Often masks would represent the specific tribe one originated from.
○ There are three types of Native American masks:
■ Single Face Masks
■ Mechanical Masks (Masks with moving parts)
■ Transformation Masks (Two-In-One Masks)
● Once the students have covered their masks in materials they will be allowed to
add more decoration of their choice.
○ Fur, feathers, foam shapes, etc.
● After the students have put together their entire mask with glue and hot glue and
are satisfied with their mask they can put it on!
MATERIALS:
● Plastic White Mask
● Leather
● Tanned Hide
● Animal Print Fabric
● Other Fabric (Multicolored)
● Faux Fur
● Feathers
● Foam Shapes/Foam Squares
● Construction Paper
● Stickers
● Fringe
● Hot Glue Guns
ASSESSMENT:
● Students will be assessed on the completion of their mask and whether it is thematic or
not.
LEVELS OF BLOOM’S TAXONOMY FOR THIS LESSON: Check all that apply to your
lesson.

_X_ Knowledge (Know) _X_ Comprehension (Understand) _X_ Application

(Apply)

__ Analysis (Analyze) __ Synthesis (Evaluate) __ Evaluation (Create)

LEVELS OF DOK FOR THIS LESSON:

___X__ Level 1 __X___ Level 2 _____ Level 3 _____ Level 4

Resources: Specific website names and addresses: MLA format

● "Native American Masks." Importance of Native American Masks. N.p., n.d.
Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
● "Native American Dance Fan." Free Kids Crafts. N.p., 14 Apr. 2014. Web. 01
Mar. 2017.
● "Native American Rituals and Ceremonies - History and Information - Page 2."
Native American Rituals and Ceremonies - History and Information - Page 2. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.