Elementary Studio Lesson
Graham Hsu, grade four.
Googly Eyes
Susan Boss
As an artist, I have always
admired beverage take-out trays for their funky
form and function. As an
art teacher and devoted recycler, they
seemed too good to discard. I held
one up to my face, and found that my
features were almost completely concealed, but I was able to see perfectly
through the perforated openings. I
looked like an exotic creature. Thus
the googly eye mask was born.
My second-, third-, and fourth-grade students loved the idea of going
bug eyed! We focused on the recycle
and reuse potential of discarded materials, but also found that the masks
would lend themselves to a Halloween project or a celebration of Mardi
Gras
Ahead of Time
Ask students, colleagues, and friends
to provide you with discarded take-out trays. Brainstorm with students
about what other common recycled
or discarded materials might be collected for the googly eyes—bottle
caps, buttons, packing peanuts, poker
chips—one idea leads to another.
Encourage families to help by sending
the list home with students.
Creating a Mask Base
Examine and talk about the take-out trays. What are they used for?
What are they made of? How are they
made? Split the trays in half and tear
off a V shape in the middle, then trim
a V shape out of the top. This will
allow the trays to conform to the
face. Choose one or two colors and
thoroughly paint a base coat on the
mask. Lay mask bases on waxed paper
to dry.
