How can i make mask making fun for an after school drama group?

I have less then an hour. I have roughly 45 minutes. Its a mix of grade 6,7 and 8. I'm also from a native American teaching school. My cooperating teacher wants me to include culture in this. I'm not sure how in such a short time frame.How can i make mask making fun for an after school drama group?
well, yeah, they kind of put you in a pickle. it's certainly not the masks fault. they are incredibly fun and appeal to a wide range of ages. consider some alternatives:





-see if you could take this project thru a few sessions. i would suggest three. this way you could do a lesson on native american masks and their history (which is vitally important to including the culture aspect of your session - this might be a point to argue in favor of extending the session, IF that is even possible). because native americans used masks less for entertainment and more b/c of their spiritual beliefs, i think it's very important that this distinction be made. do 30 mins lecturing about the history of the native american mask and then do measurements and anything else to prepare for the next lesson. the second lesson would be actually making the mask. whether it be paper or paper mache. then the third session could be the decoration of the mask.





-if the multiple classes isn't going to work, i would suggest finding a very simple project and possibly doing a lecture while they're figuring it out. maybe even find some pictures to print out to inspire the kids or have them simply try to duplicate authentic masks. the main thing is, b/c of the time given AND the age group, you have to make it easier than just making a mask. you have to give them a GOAL, an objective...somewhere to go and the tools with which to get there. this will make something simple like making a mask from construction paper more difficult b/c they're attempting to replicate real masks with simple materials. you could also point out that native americans had simple materials to...as a matter of fact, you could do a little field trip post lecture to collect materials from outside that might help them with their masks.





-or instead of making masks, do a quiz show type thing where they're in teams and you hold up a picture of a mask and they have to try and guess, between all of them, what they think the mask might have been used for. have actual prizes like candy or extra credit or something special.





i also just slapped down some links i found for mask making and then some more that are native american mask oriented. good luck!