Lesson ideas for a plague mask:So you know how to make a simple plague mask now but what do you do with it?
There are a few lesson ideas of what you can do with this, here are a few:
Lesson idea 1:
Lesson idea 4:
There are a few lesson ideas of what you can do with this, here are a few:
Lesson idea 1:
- The first lesson would be to make the mask. This can be a simple you show and they follow step by step. Once the mask is made it would be up to them to decorate it with the resources you have provided. (When doing a lesson like this I prefer to have 4-5 different tables set up with different resources on like paints, colouring pens, paper for callage etc. A quick demonstration of each could be good here - reminding children of some simple tips like wait for the paint to dry before painting a different colour.
- A tailored this lesson for my class, in that I told them that they would be writing the instructions for making a plague mask in our next literacy lesson so with the scrap paper I had handed out, I told them to make notes on what they did and what I said when I modelled the task.
- Then of course they had to write the instructions up in best using a template. There was no modelling from me in this lesson just an introduction into why we use bossy verbs and examples of what they could use.
- This was then used as a display for the classroom.
- Once the mask has been made the children are to research what an actual plague doctor looked like. This research would probably be for homework.
- Using this information we would then talk about how we could decorate the mask so it looks accurate.
- Then using an art lesson I would model how they could create such a look (Remember this is from the children's ideas but of course with you enhancing their skills - if you need time to research how to do this before the lesson then do just that. A five minute talk after registration could do and then your next art lesson would be the time to try it out.)
Lesson idea 4:
- The masks can be used as a prop in a drama activity. This should be designed to aid their writing skills. After they have performed the drama ask the audience to describe the plague doctor and how he acted and looked - this should be scribed on the board for the next literacy lesson to aid them.
- Use this for a DT lesson. They can have a go at making the mask and then the children need to know why they were designed this way with the big beak having two functions:
- First was the design of a bird - the people of the age believed this would protect them. One theory was that birds spread the desease so if the doctors dressed as a bird they would leave them alone.
- The second reason was that this part would be stuffed with insense and spices to ward off the bad smells of the plague which were thought to have caused the plague.
- They had to disguise their identity so people didn't know who they were if something bad happened, i.e. if someone wanted revenge for a relatives death.
- Once they have made this then they could have a go at making other masks of animals (there are plenty of animal mask templates on the internet you could research for this)
- They then could have a go at designing their own and eventually making one before evaluating their work.