Does your schoolyard have a fence around it? Whether it is a wood or chainlink fence, it will probably improve with some artwork on it.
I have taught mosaic art to fourth graders a variety of ways, and it was not easy for students to persevere through the tedious process of creating an image by gluing tiny paper bits onto a paper. Some art classes have had a good outcome with a bottle cap mosaic project, either done by individual students or a group or class of students. You can even allow it to be an ongoing project done bit-by-bit during recesses.
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| euroresidentes.com |
Gluing or nailing plastic bottle caps onto a thin piece of plywood could be a whole class project. A wavy rainbow color pattern is simple but visually effective. The prospect of an authentic audience for the art, once it has been hung on the fence, will hopefully add motivation to take the project to completion. It will be displayed outside, but you can also make the artwork outside.
Months ahead of the project, you need to start collecting plastic bottle caps, of course. Closer to the date of the project, collect and waterproof a sheet of plywood. On the first day of the project, start by showing the class some inspiring bottle cap art made by artists all over the world; examples are easy to find online, but Mary Ellen Croteau's website really takes the cake.
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| maryellencroteau.net |
Point out to students how the artist chooses colors; check, for example, how she used purple for the jawline. How many different colours are used in the face? The neck? If students are up for creating an image, one of them might come up with the idea of pixelating an image for that purpose.
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| nose detail -maryellencroeau.net |
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