School Mural

A couple of years ago the kids had an artist come to the school and work with each class and each student individually to create this mural at the school. It took months. She had groups of kids make specific things. For example, Zachary's group worked on the beaver in the picture below (bottom left corner).
Shaylin's group made the raccoon below, the one to the left of the tree (not in the tree). She specifically shaped the raccoons nose and eyes. She formed the clay for the actual eye balls.
This was an amazing process to watch happen. We were able to come as parent volunteers and assist the artist, but we were given instructions not to touch the clay. It all had to be the kid's work. If a parent tried to help a child shape even a little claw or beak, the artist would smoosh the clay piece and have the child start again. The volunteers learned quickly that she was serious about the kids doing it all. She would guide them through words and have them print out pictures from online and study the pictures to look at the shape of things, and where the depth was, etc. It was a very educational experience for me to watch and incredible to watch the kids grow artistically.

Every time we enter the school I see this mural and am still amazed to see how each little intricate part came together to make such a beautiful mural. What's even better is to hear kids as they pass by it say which part they worked on. So many pieces to this beautiful work of art, and so many little hands can claim ownership to it. Hopefully, you can click on the pictures and see the detail. I'm still in awe and it's been up for 2 years.