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Year 5

Mask designs: research and mood board

I can explore different mask designs and create a mood board to inspire my own mask creation.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 5

Mask designs: research and mood board

I can explore different mask designs and create a mood board to inspire my own mask creation.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Masks can have cultural, ceremonial, or artistic purposes.
  2. Different cultures have unique mask designs and symbols.
  3. A mood board is a visual tool to collect and arrange ideas and inspiration.

Keywords

  • Mask - a covering for all or part of the face, used for disguise, protection, or performance

  • Culture - the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society

  • Symbol - a mark or character used to represent an idea, object, or relationship

  • Mood board - a visual tool that gathers images, materials and ideas for inspiration

Common misconception

All masks are used for disguise.

Masks can also be used for cultural ceremonies, art and storytelling.


To help you plan your year 5 art and design lesson on: Mask designs: research and mood board, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Encourage students to connect mask designs to emotions and stories. Use open-ended questions like, "What story might this mask tell?" and "How do its colours and patterns make you feel?" This fosters deeper thinking and helps students personalise their mood boards.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Magazines and images of masks. Internet access and printing equipment. Scissors, glue, pens. Large paper to mount images. Digital software to create a mood board if available.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
__________ are basic concepts in art and design.
Correct answer: Balance and composition
Formulas and equations
Spelling and grammar
Q2.
A __________ is an image of a person.
photograph
landscape
Correct answer: portrait
Q3.
Facial __________ are how big or small features are compared to each other.
expressions
Correct answer: proportions
emotions
Q4.
How do colours convey meaning?
colours are chosen randomly
colours are only for decoration
Correct answer: colours often symbolise emotions and ideas
Q5.
What is a mood board?
A type of emotion.
A musical instrument.
Correct answer: A visual tool for inspiration.
Q6.
Which of these is NOT a reason someone might wear a mask?
To reduce the spread of illness
To help with allergies or pollution
Correct answer: To improve their eyesight
As part of cultural or religious traditions
As part of a costume or disguise

Exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
A __________ board is a visual tool that gathers images, materials and ideas for inspiration.
games
graphic
Correct answer: mood
Q2.
__________ can be included in a mood board.
Completed artworks only
Correct answer: Images, colours and words
Sculptures and 3D models
Q3.
Which of the following statements about masks is not true?
Masks are used in cultural ceremonies.
Correct answer: Masks are only used for disguise.
Masks are unique to different cultures.
Q4.
What should you annotate on your mood board?
What size you think the mask is.
How long it will take to make the mask.
Correct answer: Why you find certain images inspiring.
Correct answer: Which culture the mask is from.