Masks in Chinese culture are used in celebrations, ceremonies and the dramatic arts. The colorful and detailed masks make perfect art projects for young learners on a unit about ancient Chinese traditions. Create distinctive, and imaginative craft projects with your class by exploring Chinese history and face mask folklore.
Pie-Tin Dragon Craft
To make a Chinese New Year dragon mask, start with a plain, clean circular pie-tin. Cut a piece of lightweight cardboard, from an empty cereal box, for instance, and color or paint the unprinted side green. Glue the cardboard to the bottom of the pie tin; on the outside with the green side facing outward. Color or paint a small cylindrical yogurt container green and allow it to dry; this is the dragon's snout, so draw of paint nostrils however you like before attaching it to the center of the mask with glue. Add large googly eyes, or use foam shapes to make a face for the dragon. You can also add a red tongue with a strip of red crepe paper attached at the base of the snout. For the body, cut long strips of any color (red is lucky in Chinese culture) crepe paper or fabric and staple one end of each along the bottom edge of the tin.
Chinese New Year Masks
In Chinese tradition, a different animal represents each new year. During your ancient China unit, explain this tradition to the class and find out Chinese animal the students were born under. Using a paper plate as the base, make an animal mask for each child's year. If they were born under the year of the monkey, paint the plate brown, and a large circle around the mouth yellow. Draw on eyes and glue semicircles to either side for ears. Explain the symbolism of the lion in Chinese culture and the lion dance that is performed at New Year celebrations. Paint the plate yellow with a brown snout. Draw a face and attach orange yarn to the outer edge for the mane. Draw a face and cut eye holes and a mouth for each mask; attach to the child's head as a mask by punching two holes on either side and threading a ribbon to fit over her head.
Beijing Opera Masks
For a crafty but authentic Beijing opera mask, start by cutting out a circle of card stock. The circle should be large enough to cover the child's face and should have two eye holes and a cutout for a mouth. You can use a template from a crafting website, or a freehand design. Have each child trace the design they would like to paint using a pencil; the design can be based on the Chinese dramatic tradition with colors like red, blue and black. Paint the mask and allow it to dry. Punch two holes on either side of the mask to affix it to the child's head. Thread a small loop of yarn or string through each hole to fit over the child's ears and it's ready to wear.
Papier-Mache Stick Mask
For slightly older children, make your Chinese face mask out of papier-maché. Blow up a balloon to roughly the same size as the child's head and place it in a bowl to balance with the tied end down. Make the papier-maché mixture out of liquid glue and water in a bowl. Dip newspaper strips in the mixture and affix to half the balloon. Use about four layers of newspaper and then cover the top layer with pieces of white paper so it will be easier to decorate. Allow the papier-maché to dry overnight and then pop the balloon. Paint it for Chinese New Year or in the opera mask style, and punch two holes on either side and thread it with a string. You can also attach a tongue depressor to the chin for a mask that the child can simply hold in front of his face.
