Grades/Level: Lower Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5)
Subjects: Visual Arts, Theater
Time Required: Long–Term Unit
Six 30-minute class periods
Author: J. Paul Getty Museum Education Staff

Lesson Overview

Students will examine and discuss an ancient Greek statuette depicting a comic actor and an ancient Roman lamp decorated with a comic theater mask. Students will learn about stock characters and create comic masks for characters. They will work in teams to pantomime a short scene while wearing their masks.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:
• describe how stock characters have been portrayed in theater and works of art.
• identify lines and shapes in a work of art.
• create a comic theater mask.
• pantomime short scenes.

Materials

• Reproduction of Statuette of a Comic Actor by an unknown Greek artist
• Reproduction of Lamp in the Shape of a Comic Mask by an unknown Roman artist
• Background Information and Questions for Teaching about the statuette and lamp
• Student Handout: "Emotion Cards"
• Internet access
• A figurine of a comic actor or cartoon character (i.e., Jim Carrey doll, Toy Story figurine) or an object that displays a comic actor or cartoon character (i.e., SpongeBob SquarePants pencil holder, Shrek drinking glass)
• Information and activities in the Understanding Formal Analysis section on the Getty website (optional)
• Projector
• Dry-erase markers
• Student Handout: "Who, What, and Where?"
• Student Handout: "The Shapes of Characters"
• Paper
• Pencils
• Art Activity: "Paper Theater Masks" (PDF, 505KB, 3 pp.)
• 8½ x 11 inch paper cut into approximately eight 1 x 11 inch strips (one strip per student)
• Heavy sheets of paper (i.e., construction paper or cut sides of brown paper bags)
• Scissors
• Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
• Hole punches
• Elastic or yarn
• Glue or tape
• Assorted decorative materials, such as foil, recycled fabric, scrap construction paper, raffia, and yarn (optional)

Lesson Steps

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Glossary Terms:
Words in bold on these pages and in the lesson are defined in the glossary for this curriculum (see "Performing Arts in Art Contents" links above).