Man of the Century

What's behind Albert Einstein's frizzy hair, wiry mustache, and penetrating eyes? Find out and create a bas-relief mask of this unforgettable face.

• 1.

  Quickly gather general information about Albert Einstein using electronic and text resources. Share these well-known facts about this well-known man, including his famed ability to think about the world in a different way. Write a short paragraph with Crayola® Metallic Colored Pencils giving an overview of Einstein's life and work.

• 2.

  Begin a new paragraph with "But did you know...?". Put your writing aside for a bit to dig deeper into your resources for some less familiar facts about Einstein. What were his ideas on the meaning of life, the perfect government, and the value of imagination? Collect interesting quotes. Find out about his childhood and family life. Organize your information into a series of related sentences and then paragraphs to complete your report on Einstein.

• 3.

  Refer to a photograph of Einstein. Use art materials in a new way to create an honorary bas-relief mask of his face. Cover your work area with newspaper. Wet construction paper with a solution of equal parts Crayola School Glue and water to build up Einstein's face on cardboard. Roll paper into a ball and place under a second piece of construction paper for a nose.

• 4.

  Think of inventive ways to make eyes and mouth. Glue on twine hair, eyebrows, and a mustache. Dry.

• 5.

  Paint with Crayola Washable Watercolor Paints and Watercolor Brushes. Dry.

• 6.

  Add excitement to the mask with Crayola Oil Pastels. Be imaginative in your use of bright colors on and around the mask.

Benefits

• Children research well-known and lesser-known facts about Albert Einstein.
• Students organize their information and write a report on Einstein's life, work, and philosophies.
• Students create colorful bas-relief mask images to honor Einstein's contributions.

Adaptations

• Display masks and research in a science area or Man of the Century hallway gallery. Dress as Einstein for his birthday on March 14, or whenever your gallery opens. Create hair from cut strips of newspaper and mustaches from paper or felt. Memorize quotes
• With early readers, read aloud Ibi Lepscky's Albert Einstein. Talk about how Einstein was unlike other children in his boyhood. Create an imaginative class story about a day Albert Einstein was the new kid in class. Think of ways classmates are each diffe
• Older students delve into Einstein's scientific research. Create models or dioramas depicting his theories and work, and how his creativity has changed the world.