The grades three and four had been looking at the question. What is a Tribe as their focus for learning. They had looked at many different facets of group life and I collected many different images from the internet and looked at these images with the children on the interactive whiteboard. We discussed facial markings, use of natural materials to create head dresses and jewellery etc.

We then set about making “tribal” faces.

Each child had half a Poly Ball each that they used Paper Magiclay to make facial features on- these were joined using Supertac and left to dry. Some children chose to use skewers to pierce noses made from Magiclay. Some children made bones as part of their necklace from Magiclay at this time too, threaded through Beading Wire and left to dry. The children then used gold or silver paper and Shimmer Paint and metallic paint to cover the whole of the piece of paper. They then had to scratch a pattern or design into the paper. We had looked at patterns used in tribal art, again from the whiteboard display of native people and their clothing.

Hair was made by wrapping black feather wool around Florist Wire and then bending it into shape. Faces were painted with black Shimmer Paint and then brown Shimmer Paint for lips. The children were also able to make a beaded necklace using various beads, including Seed Beads.

Assembly of finished product was done after all components were dry. A body shape was cut from the gold and silver paper and glued on to coloured backing card. A frame was then glued over the body and backing. The face was assembled by adding feathers (with a limit of three colours) and hair poking into the Poly Ball, then glued using Supertac on to the backing card, joined with the body. The beaded necklace was then attached through holes and masking taped on to the back of the card. Remaining pieces of silver and gold paper was then used to decorate the frame.

The completed work was displayed using Zart Animal Print Paper backing the display board.

This project was completed over several sessions, allowing time for drying before assembly.

Tyabb Primary School.