Let's Make a Mural

Materials

• White or brown mural paper 
• Chart paper  
• Pencils, markers, and crayons
• Tempera paint
• Camera 

Objective

Children will develop creative-thinking, fine-motor, language, and social skills as they work together to plan, design, and create a mural.

Activity

Step 1: Invite the class to work in small groups to make murals. Engage them in a discussion to share ideas for themes they could base their mural on. They may want to use favorite scenes or characters from books or nursery rhymes, animals, transportation, outer space, or underwater themes. Develop a list of ideas on chart paper.

Step 2: Divide the children into small groups and ask each group to choose a theme. Encourage them to think about how they will design their mural and what types of art materials they would like to use.

Step 3: Find an area in the classroom where children can work. Provide each group with a large sheet of mural paper and art materials. Photograph the project to both document the mural process and the ways in which children worked together to complete this project.

Step 4: After they have completed their murals, provide children with writing materials and ask them to write about the theme of their mural. Offer assistance if needed. Find an area of the classroom to display the murals and writings.

Step 5: Provide time for the children to share their experiences with each other. What did they learn from the process? Why is it important to learn to work together?

Curriculum Connection: Math

Sequence and Summary
Provide each group with photographs depicting the different stages of their mural. Ask each group to place their photographs in sequential order. Then ask them to dictate information about the process. Include their project documentation along with their mural displays.

Related Books

• The Art Box by Gail Gibbons
• Market Day: A Story Told With Folk Art by Lois Ehlert 
• When Pigasso Met Mootisse by Nina Laden