**Lesson Plan for Cultural and Creative Arts: PAPIER MACHE**
**Grade Level**: Junior Secondary 2
**Duration**: 80 minutes
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**Objective**:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the concept and history of papier-mâché.
2. Identify the materials needed for papier-mâché.
3. Create a simple papier-mâché project.
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**Materials**:
- Newspapers or recycled paper
- Water
- Flour
- Salt (optional, to prevent mold)
- Mixing bowls
- Brushes
- Balloon or cardboard forms
- Paint and paintbrushes
- Scissors
- Aprons or old shirts (to protect clothing)
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**Introduction**: (10 minutes)
1. **Greetings and Attendance**: Briefly greet the students and take attendance.
2. **Hook/Engagement**: Show images or actual papier-mâché projects to spark interest.
3. **Discussion**: Explain the origins of papier-mâché (French for "chewed paper," it is an ancient craft used by various cultures for different purposes).
4. **Objective Review**: Clearly state what students will learn and create by the end of the lesson.
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**Direct Instruction**: (10 minutes)
1. **What is Papier-Mâché?**: Definition and brief history.
2. **Materials Needed**: List and explain the purpose of each material.
3. **Safety Tips**: Explain the importance of cleanliness and safety when handling tools and materials.
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**Guided Practice**: (30 minutes)
1. **Step-by-Step Demonstration**:
a. Tearing paper into strips.
b. Creating the paste by mixing flour, water, and a pinch of salt for preserving.
c. Inflating a balloon or setting up a cardboard form.
d. Applying the paper strips soaked in paste onto the form.
e. Smoothing and layering until the form is covered.
2. **Student Activity**:
a. Distribute materials to each student.
b. Guide students as they tear paper strips and mix their paste.
c. Assist students in applying the strips onto their forms.
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**Independent Practice**: (20 minutes)
1. Allow students to work independently or in pairs to finish covering their forms.
2. Encourage creativity in shaping and layering their papier-mâché projects.
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**Closure**: (10 minutes)
1. **Cleanup**: Allocate time for students to clean their workspace and wash their hands.
2. **Review**: Ask students to share their thoughts and any challenges they faced during the activity.
3. **Preview of Next Lesson**: Inform students that in the next class, they will paint and decorate their dried papier-mâché projects.
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**Assessment**:
1. **Observation**: Monitor students' participation and understanding during the activity.
2. **Completed Project**: Evaluate the final papier-mâché product for effort, creativity, and adherence to instructions.
3. **Q&A**: Conduct a brief Q&A session to assess students' grasp on the topic.
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**Extensions**:
1. **Advanced Project**: Encourage students to plan and create a more complex papier-mâché sculpture at home.
2. **Cultural Connection**: Research and present on different cultural uses of papier-mâché around the world.
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**Homework**:
1. Write a short paragraph on what they most enjoyed about the activity and what they would like to create next time using papier-mâché.
By following this lesson plan, students will gain hands-on experience with papier-mâché, enhancing their creativity and understanding of this versatile art form.