Dreams Take Flight

For years, a familiar Eric Carle-esque caterpillar mosaic by retired art educator Connie Bier adorned Harmony Elementaryʼs lobby. Iʼd often heard whispers of Connieʼs wish for a larger piece, and those whispers sparked an ambitious vision: a school-wide mosaic inspired by the very hungry caterpillarʼs iconic transformation into a butterfly.

Despite my initial apprehension about collaborating with seasoned educators like Connie (who is also a grandmother to two of my students) and Vicki Cottam, the retired art educator whose room I now inhabit, the desire for a collective artwork prevailed. The result was a stunning legacy piece crafted by hundreds of young artists, one colorful clay creation at a time.

Starting with Paper
Building on the existing Carle-themed caterpillar, we decided to draw inspiration from it for the butterfly students would create. We thought it was important for students to understand where the aesthetic choices behind our mosaic came from, so we began by reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Next, we introduced the concept of mosaics. We explored past works by Connie and Vicki, examining the materials and tools involved. We discussed the similarities between the cutting, gluing, and piecing of collages and the process of creating a mosaic.

Following this, our kindergartners created caterpillar collages, while first and second graders designed ice cream cones overflowing with scoops, sprinkles, and other delightful details. Third graders, meanwhile, produced an assortment of foods, all using painted papers that Connie, Vicki, and I had prepared.

Moving to Clay
Once their individual projects were complete, we invited students to sketch butterfly designs. Our aim was to draw inspiration from these student drawings to determine the shape of our muralʼs wings.

Our goal was for every student, even our 4K classes who donʼt usually come to art, to contribute a clay piece to the mosaic.

Connie and Vicki visited the 4K rooms and introduced the concept of mosaics, empowering the youngest students to create small clay circles marked with their shoe prints.

Kindergartners flattened their clay into circles and personalized them with textures and designs using various tools.

First and second graders chose from pre-cut butterfly shapes of different sizes and added their own unique designs or tool impressions.

Third graders embraced a hand-building method, crafting small, flat food items to be nestled within the butterflyʼs wings.

Every student made two pieces: one to be featured on the mosaic and a second one to take home, magnetized for their fridge.

After the pieces had been fired, Connie and Vicki walked students through the glazing process.

Impressive Assembly
With all the individual clay pieces complete, it was time to bring the design to life. Over spring break, Connie and Vicki meticulously drew out the chosen butterfly design and began the intricate process of adhering every student-made clay piece to the mosaic. Students returned from break to find the butterfly mosaic largely assembled.

The following week, Connie and Vicki continued their work in the art room, expertly grouting the piece, while students observed and learned about this crucial final step in the mosaic-making process.

Celebrating Creativity
With the school abuzz with excitement over the new mosaic, it was time for its public debut. Harmonyʼs annual Family Fun Night, a large year-end celebration, seemed like the perfect occasion to unveil our masterpiece. Iʼll admit, I was a little nervous. How could a mosaic compete with carnival games, bounce houses, and shaved ice? Would everyone be too distracted to step inside the school to see it?

What we anticipated as an hour-long viewing stretched into ninety minutes of packed crowds, eager to see our schoolʼs newest addition. The excited student artists pulled their parents by the hand, rushing to point out their specific clay contribution. They didnʼt just see a butterfly; they saw their food pieces, their textured circles, and their shoe prints within the design. Their voices took on a sense of ownership and accomplishment, sharing stories of how they made their piece and the tools they used. Even amidst the allure of games and treats, the power of personal creation stole the show.