131--Stencil Mural and Other Projects, lesson plan

For grades 4 and up: As a variation to the mixed media mural, you can have your students make a STENCIL MURAL. First they paint a background, taking turns to give each child a chance. You then have every student make a stencil out of oaktag or bristol board. This idea works best with themes where you want lots of the same images: a garden, zoo, jungle, under the sea, teddy bear convention, rainforest, etc.

Each student must plan a design that will be cut out and "make sense" when it is stenciled in. Think of the oaktag as have two parts: the mainland (or background) and the cut out parts. You have to maintain the mainland in order for this to work. Keep tape handy, because you will need it for a few students who will have trouble grasping the concept at first. Draw the object--a fish say--making it bold and simple. Then figure how how to section it in order to be able to take a stiff brush and dab paint in it to create a readable form. You cut out areas which will be the ones that the paint goes into. In some cases you will have to make a tab which will attach to the mainland.

Once cut out, use a stiff brush to pound the paint into the areas, making sure not to shift the stencil. Move it when done and then place on another area and stencil again. The idea is that you can make many, many images. Add a bit of white paint to your color to make sure the stencil will go over dark backgrounds.

Another idea is the BLOW-UP. Take an image such as a work of art by an artist they are studying and grid it, like in the grid method we did earlier. Cut the image into squares (one for each student)and number the placement on the back for later. Don't forget this step or you'll be sorry. Have them translate their section on a large piece of paper. Color in with whatever you deem best: craypas, tempera paint or acrylic paint would probably look best, depending on the image. When each student is finished, tape the mural together. It will be enormous and impressive. The pieces will match pretty well and each child has made a part of the whole.

For other group projects, think in terms of quilting. Any small piece can be put together with others to make a grander whole. Paper projects, felt squares, prints and the like can be taped together to form a larger piece. The subject matter is up to you: self-portraits, heros, women in history, inventors, scientists, artists, writers, etc. could all be made into great mural-quilts.