The Arts · Grade 6

Active learning ideas

Costume and Makeup Design

Active learning helps students grasp how costume and makeup design communicate character and context more deeply than passive lessons. When students handle fabrics, sketch designs, and test makeup, they connect abstract concepts like status and era to tangible decisions they can explain and defend.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• TH:Cr2.1.6a
• TH:Cn11.1.6a

• 25–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 50 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Design Principle Stations

Prepare four stations: social status with fabric samples, historical research with period images, makeup trials using face paint and mirrors, symbolic colors with swatches and mood cards. Small groups spend 10 minutes per station sketching one element for a shared character, then combine ideas. Conclude with group shares.

Analyze how a character's costume communicates their social status or personality.

Facilitation Tip

During Design Principle Stations, circulate with questions like, 'What does this fabric texture suggest about the wearer’s environment?' to guide hands-on explorations.

What to look for

Students present their costume sketches and makeup designs for a historical character. Peers use a checklist to evaluate: Is the historical period evident? Does the design suggest personality? Are colors used purposefully? Peers provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Museum Exhibit
• 35 min · Pairs

Pairs: Historical Character Concept

Pairs select a character from a play set in a specific era, research authentic attire online or in books, then draw costume and makeup plans. They label choices for status, personality, and theme. Pairs present to class for feedback.

Design a costume and makeup concept for a character from a specific historical period.

Facilitation Tip

For Historical Character Concept, remind pairs to compare primary sources and discuss why certain details matter, not just how they look.

What to look for

Provide students with images of three different costumes from various historical periods. Ask them to write down the period each costume likely represents and one reason why, focusing on silhouette and details.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Museum Exhibit
• 40 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Symbolism Gallery Walk

Each student creates a color board with fabric scraps and drawings showing theme symbols. Display boards around the room. Students walk the gallery, noting effective examples and suggesting alternatives in a shared chart.

Explain how symbolic colors in costumes can enhance a play's themes.

Facilitation Tip

In the Symbolism Gallery Walk, have students jot down one observation per design and one question for the creator to spark deeper analysis.

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'How might a character's costume change if they were suddenly impoverished or gained immense wealth during the play? What specific elements of the costume would you alter and why?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Museum Exhibit
• 25 min · Individual

Individual: Makeup Mood Sketch

Students choose three emotions, sketch neutral faces, then add makeup details to convey each. Use printed face templates. Share sketches in a quick class discussion on effectiveness.

Analyze how a character's costume communicates their social status or personality.

Facilitation Tip

During Makeup Mood Sketch, provide mirrors and limited palettes so students focus on intentional choices rather than perfection.

What to look for

Students present their costume sketches and makeup designs for a historical character. Peers use a checklist to evaluate: Is the historical period evident? Does the design suggest personality? Are colors used purposefully? Peers provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should balance research with experimentation, ensuring students test their hypotheses by trying materials or techniques. Avoid overemphasizing aesthetics—guide students to prioritize storytelling. Research suggests that tactile activities like draping fabric or blending makeup help students retain abstract concepts like symbolism and status more effectively than lectures alone.

Successful learning shows when students can articulate how visual choices reflect character traits, historical periods, and thematic symbols. They should justify decisions with evidence from research or materials, and revise designs based on peer feedback or new insights.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Design Principle Stations, watch for students who focus only on colors or patterns without considering how fabric choices signal character traits like status or profession.

  Ask students to physically drape fabrics over their arms or a mannequin and describe what the texture and drape suggest about the wearer. Use prompts like, 'Would this fabric hold up to manual labor, or does it drape too delicately for royalty?'

• During Makeup Mood Sketch, watch for students who assume makeup is only for fantasy or exaggerated characters, ignoring its role in subtle realism.

  Have students apply simple, safe makeup to a partner’s face to create a mood, such as fatigue or excitement, using only neutral or skin-tone shades. Discuss how small changes alter perception without drawing attention to the makeup itself.

• During Historical Character Concept, watch for students who invent details for modern appeal rather than researching authentic period pieces.

  Require students to present at least three sources with their sketches and highlight one detail they might otherwise have changed. Ask, 'How would omitting this ruff or beadwork affect the audience’s understanding of the character’s world?'

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Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation
• Museum Exhibit