Materials
Thinned tempera paint or watercolors
Paint cups
Eyedroppers
Paint paper
Instructions
1. Murals can fit into many themes and you can make them many timesthroughout the year. As a group, work on a mural that you can hang in theroom. Some themes for murals include the ocean, the universe or space, azoo, a farm, dinosaurs, transportation, a rodeo, and a garden. The possibilitiesare endless just use your imagination and your curriculum as a guide.2. Start by showing the children books and talking about your theme.3. Then encourage the children to start drawing! Make sure to suggest that theydraw scenery on their mural.4. Play music while the children are working. This can be a creativity booster forthe children as they tap their toes and work. (For example, "Octopus'Garden" is a good song to play for an ocean mural.)5. Ask each child to describe his part of the mural. For example, after reading abook on ocean animals and drawing the animals on a group mural, see if thechildren know the names of the animals they have created or encouragethem to make up names.6. Hang the mural with pride! This is a great cooperative effort as the childrenlearn to work together.
