Mosaic maker Kim Grant has sent through some info on what she’d been up to at Curtin Primary:
creating a mural with children at Curtin Primary. Support from the P&C committee as well as teachers at the school have meant that all students K-6 (approximately 400 children), have been able to participate in the fabrication, installation and grouting of the mural. The mural measures 3.9m W x 2.1m H and is based upon the theme of a macro garden. The brief included a desire for an Asian feel to the overall design as this would also tie in the Indonesian language being learned at the school. Location of the project is in the junior courtyard of the school. The mosaic will help to enhance this area of the school making it a more inviting area for the kids to play in.
“It is invaluable for schools and individual teachers to understand the value of art for children. Kids learn so much from creating a mosaic – everything from the basics of counting, matching and sorting to problem solving, spatial relation and visual organisation, which are the basics of geometry. The list goes on. Kids are learning without even realising it and they love it!” Kim said. A more concise list of how mosaics can assist in learning development can be found on her blog.
The kids have been fabricating the mural indirectly in their art room. Materials include ceramic tile, mirror, glass gems and glass shapes. It will also incorporate some clay sculptures that the Kindergarteners have created all of which were fired in the school’s kiln. Years 1 – 6 have had the opportunity to create the mosaic, from smashing tile (the more favoured aspect), to more detailed cutting using tile nippers and then piecing of the mural together. Installation took four days, grouting two and assistance in this aspect was mostly done by year 6 students, as well as Kim’s three children.
Next year, students will continue creating mosaics as part of the project. These will be smaller mosaics designed by the kids that will float around the walls of the courtyard.
Further information on Kim’s community projects can be found on her website:
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