kids

How do you teach Mardi Gras to 8 year olds in the context of a Mask Making art class...? Why is Mardi Gras relevant to mask making, when there is nothing inherently 'mardi-gras'..ian about mask making..? and why is it relevant when we even digress from mardi gras masks to talk about other masks from different cultures?

I found out the day before the class that the mask making wasn't just about masks, but had to be Mardi Gras themed.. so i tried to, briefly, try to understand what Mardi Gras was in order to impart this understanding to children. I didn't do the introducing very well, i couldn't seem to convince myself what the point was, so it was difficult to transfer this clarity to 8 year olds. Plus as it was my first time teaching i was nervous anyway, and spoke a bit too fast, and didn't quite know how to talk to the kids "on their level" (although i'm sure talking to children on their level doesnt mean their level, but a mutual level) nor  did i ask many good questions. I don't have authority, i don't have leadership, i don't have their attention even, i'm not that sure i want it to be honest.

I think it'll probably be easier when i start teaching the general art lessons, things which i'm comfortable with and know more about, i know nothing about mardi gras, nor masks. I can't do it convincingly, the best i can hope for is to be clear in simple in explaining, which i have to do again twice on wednesday. I suppose doing some sort of animation class would be good, but the equipment required would probably be a little off-putting for the schools.. It'll also be easier when i'm more confident, a lot of the times when doing new things it's not that you're clueless about how to do things, it's that you're too timid. You're not sure if something would be right so you end up not doing it, rather than risk embarrassing yourself. Sad i know