Crafting History: Making Your Own Aztec Mosaic Mask
The Aztec people, who called themselves the Mexica, were famous for their incredible artwork. One of their most stunning creations was the turquoise mosaic mask. These masks were not usually worn on the face during parties; instead, they were created for religious ceremonies or to represent powerful gods. Ancient artists used tiny pieces of real turquoise stone, shiny shells, and black volcanic glass to create detailed patterns. While we might not have real gemstones at home, we can use simple craft supplies to recreate the beauty of these ancient treasures. This project will guide you through making your own mosaic mask using modern materials.
Materials You Will Need
Before you begin, gather these items on a clean workspace. Having everything ready will make the process much smoother.
- A sturdy piece of cardboard (an old cereal box works perfectly)
- Pencil and eraser
- Scissors
- School glue or a glue stick
- Blue and teal construction paper or cardstock (try to get a few different shades of blue)
- A small piece of white and black paper for the eyes and teeth
- A gold or silver metallic marker
- A hole punch and some elastic string (optional, if you want to wear it)
Step 1: Designing the Base
- Mexica:
- The original name used by the people commonly known today as the Aztecs.
- Tesserae:
- Small individual pieces of stone, glass, or paper used to create a mosaic.
- Mosaic:
- A style of art where many small colored pieces are put together to form a larger picture or pattern.
- Symmetrical:
- When something is exactly the same on both sides, like a mirror image.
- Grout:
- The material used to fill the gaps between tiles in a mosaic to hold them in place.
- authentic:
- Genuine, real, or true to an original style.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What name did the Aztec people use for themselves?
- 2What were three specific materials ancient Aztec artists used to create their real mosaic masks?
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About this how-to / procedural passage for Upper Elementary
“Crafting History: Making Your Own Aztec Mosaic Mask” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about Aztec Art, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 5 minutes to read (791 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.