My students need materials, like clay and origami paper, to make extraordinary masks that tell the stories of their identities.
FULLY FUNDED! Ms. Manuel's classroom raised $429
This project is fully funded
My Students
Have you ever made a papier mache mask to delve into the topic of identity? Neither have my Spanish 4 students. Through this project, we will be learning about the cultural significance of masks in Spanish-speaking countries and exploring who we are and our place in the world.
My Spanish 4 students represent the cultural diversity of our city.
All the students in the course have *chosen* to study in this upper-level Spanish class. They are bright-eyed and motivated to gain proficiency in Spanish. Like me, many of them actually have struggled in their previous Spanish classes; however, they are still hungry to learn about the Spanish-speaking world and the language. It is a joy to teach teenagers like them who take risks in their learning out of intellectual curiosity.
My Project
During this unit, we are exploring the topic of identity, relationships and our places in the world. My students will be delving into these themes throughout the month and learning about the variety of ways that one can express him/herself through songs, poetry, prose, dress, and visual arts, including masks. When students are encouraged to think critically about who they are and their roles in the world, they develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and of their impact on those around them. When they SHARE these reflections, our community is truly enriched.
In connection with the aforementioned themes, we are going to learn the cultural significance of masks in Spanish-speaking countries. Our project will be to create papier mache masks as representations of self with an accompanying artist statement that speaks to the unit themes. Through this project, they will better know themselves and about the diverse group of students with whom they study.
My students are so excited to use this art form to develop themes around identity.
The more our students know about each other, the stronger our learning community and our connections to other cultures become; cultural misunderstandings can be remedied, assumptions can be shattered, and an appreciation for each other is fostered. This project is an enormous hit every year, and the impact that it has in our school is tremendous.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Manuel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.