African Power Figure Sculptures

Students create African Personal Power Figure boxes describing how they view themselves and discuss what personal traits are important to the preservation and improvement of a civilization.

Angelina Jolie, Bono, and P. Diddy all have something in common: they use their fame to contribute to society in such a way that makes the world a better place. After reading a three-page passage on the types of causes to...

Students create power figures. In this visual arts lesson, students design and build their own sculptures that replicate those made by the Songye in Zaire, Africa.

Students make masks. In this African art lesson, students review background information about African art and the use of masks. Students use geometric shapes and other designs to create their masks.

Students carve small clay animal tokens as personal talismans. They discuss why people might carry such objects and what they might personally represent to them. Students discuss which animals in Africa could be used as power symbols.

Students research the importance of masks to the African culture.  In this African mask lesson, students design original masks using a variety of materials.  Students use the template provided to create their masks.

The wood sculpture Nkisi Nkondi is said to have been used to aid in conflict resolution. Learners pretend they are journalists reporting on a conflict in which the figure was used to resolve an issue. A creative and interesting use of...

Students study African history, anthropology and culture using the lens of the art object, Ntan Drum. Lesson and instruction is differentiated for elementary, middle and high school students.

Fifth graders create clay artwork that resembles African and Egyptian monolithic sculptures.  For this visual arts lesson, 5th graders are shown examples of monolithic and figural sculpture from Egyptian and African cultures, then they...

Helpful for an American literature or history unit, this lesson prompts middle schoolers to examine slavery in the United States. They read slave narratives that were part of the Federal Writers' Project and then conduct their own...