The Mural
In keeping with the children's idea of “bringing the outside in,” an invitation was made to any interested children to visit the art studio to create a mural that looks like outside. Children brainstormed together what the picture on the mural could be. They also drew their ideas.
Cathy: I want to make five Clown Fish swimming in a pond. They'll be happy to be there just like in Finding Nemo.
Victor: There should be a golfer on some grass and maybe a bridge.
Henry: I can make the best sunshines. Let's make a sunshine in the sky. You need sun to golf; we can't do it in the rain.
Bobby: There should be flowers. The bees will help pollinate them. They get the nectar from flowers.
Lola: I can make a flower and a butterfly too.
Leslie: I can make a butterfly and help with a snail.
Laura: I can make flowers. I know how to use scissors. (Laura helped several children cut out their drawings for the mural.)
Nico: We need trees and maybe a tree house at our golf place. (This became a separate project.)
Jewel: I can make a duck. She'll go in the water and swim.
During the next several weeks' children transformed their drawings to the canvas and painted them. Many other children came in to help paint the sky blue, trace and paint the clouds white, and paint the grass green. Children painted the grass green using the edge of cardboard dipped in green paint to create the vertical lines.
With quiet music playing in the background, children were encouraged to slow down and try their best. Sometimes drawings were made several times before they were large enough to be transferred to the mural. Emphasis was placed on learning various painting techniques and using different types of brushes to complete each piece.
This was a joyful collaborative project – rich with wonderful conversation, creativity and learning.
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| Lola's drawing of a butterfly. |
Lola's painted butterflies on the mural. |
Another of Lola's butterflies. |
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| Jewel's original drawing of a duck. |
Cathy's drawing of a fish. |
The duck and the fish transferred on to the mural. |
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| Leslie's drawing of a snail. |
The snail on the mural. |
Henry's drawing of sunshine. |
Sunshine on the mural. |
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