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Lesson 2 of 4
  • Year 4

Masque: sculpture, clothes and messages

I can build a figure and costume that shows identity and power.

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View unit
Lesson 2 of 4
New
New
  • Year 4

Masque: sculpture, clothes and messages

I can build a figure and costume that shows identity and power.

Download all

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Exploring how costumes and poses can show identity, power and emotion
  2. Masquerade traditions like Jonkonnu, where costume, dance and music express culture and history
  3. Designing and building a figure and costume that express identity and tell a story through shape and movement

Keywords

  • Masquerade - a parade or celebration where people wear masks and costumes to celebrate, protest, or tell stories

  • Costume - the type of clothing worn in a particular place or time or by members of a particular group

  • Identity - all of the things by which a person or thing is known or is considered as being

  • Sculpture - a three-dimensional piece of art made by shaping or combining materials

Common misconception

My sculpture has to look like a real person to say something important.

Remind pupils that sculptures can be bold, simplified or abstract and still carry strong messages. Artists like Sokari Douglas Camp use pose, pattern and costume to express complex ideas about history, power and pride.


To help you plan your year 4 art and design lesson on: Masque: sculpture, clothes and messages, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage pupils to think about who their figure is before they start making. Prompt them to describe their character’s identity, emotion, or story aloud
Teacher tip

Equipment

Newspaper, masking tape, scissors, a strong board, Thick and thin aluminium wire, staple gun (used by an adult), scrap paper, string, stapler, hole punch, ribbon and collage materials.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A sculpture can tell a story through pose, costume, and __________.

Correct answer: expression or movement
emotion or moments
expression or moments

Q2.
A sculpture is a flat picture made with pencils and paint.

True
Sometimes true
Correct answer: False

Q3.
Which word describes a sculpture that shows movement or energy?

still
Correct answer: dynamic
flat
heavy

Q4.
What should you check before adding decoration to your sculpture?

Correct answer: that it’s balanced and stable
that it’s colourful
that it’s made of paper
that it has a name

Q5.
Sculptures can be made from clay, wire, paper, or ...

Correct answer: metal / steel
ink
water

Q6.
Order the steps to shape and build a sculpture by hand:

1 - Choose your materials
2 - Shape and build your figure
3 - Add surface details like pattern or texture

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What can costume in a sculpture help to show?

only fashion trends
Correct answer: identity and meaning
the artist’s favourite colour
size of the sculpture

Q2.
A masquerade is a performance with masks, music, and movement that tells a story.

Correct answer: True
Sometimes true
False

Q3.
Sokari Douglas Camp shows movement and through the poses and clothes in her metal sculptures.

Correct Answer: identity

Q4.
Select the correct statement:

Correct answer: Sokari Douglas Camp uses metal to show identity, power and movement.
Sokari Douglas Camp uses glass to show identity, power and movement.
Sokari Douglas Camp uses paper to show identity, power and movement.

Q5.
Select the correct statement:

A sculpture of a figure can create movement through colour.
Correct answer: A sculpture of a figure can create movement through the pose.
A sculpture of a figure can create movement through the tone.

Q6.
Put these steps in the right order to make and dress your sculpture:

1 - Plan the pose and story
2 - Build the wire or paper figure
3 - Wrap the figure and add costume