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Teacher Anne Marquard took steps to make this a deep English language learning experience.   Learn More

This was a project with ESL students at Jackson Middle School. Teacher Anne Marquard did these steps to make this a deep English language learning experience.

The core concept was conflict. She had the students listen to the symphony "Peter and the Wolf" to demonstrate that sounds can convey mood and story without words. She showed a book that demonstrates the use of abstract shapes and color to tell the story of "Little Red Riding Hood", and had the students make an abstract story board of "Peter and the Wolf".

Next she had each student choose 50 words starting with their assigned letter of the alphabet and find those images on Google. Each student made torn paper compositions of the alliterative sentences they wrote using some of the words they had found. The sentences had to show a conflict. Then I helped the students create 12" X 12" torn colored tissue and other paper collages concentrating on color choices and abstract shapes to illustrate their sentences.

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Over two years middle school students toured the river by boat to learn about the watershed. They then sketched, photographed, and painted their impressions.   Learn More

800 students spent two years touring the river by boat to learn about the watershed. Then they sketched, photographed, and painted their impressions. The murals are on both sides of a 340 foot main hall. Jeri Fitterman, 6th grade teacher, conceived the idea and wrote over 20 grants (and received 10) to fund the field trips and mural.

Located at 7334 NE Siskiyou in Portland, Oregon, this Riverscape Mural depicts the Willamette River from Willamette Falls to the Columbia River.

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Skateboard-enthused kids created stained glass mosaic murals in just two weeks!   Learn More

Upon arrival to build a mural I found there were no walls. The solution was to cut plywood figures and mosaic them with stained glass. Eight young people drew the skater figures, learned to cut glass and assemble the mosaics which were bolted to the fence. Some figures were two-sided. Working time was 10 days, 4 hours a day.

You can see these murals at the skateboard park in Lake Oswego.

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An 8th grade TAG (Tallented And Gifted) class painted this 80 foot mural with Wendy.   Learn More

You can see this mural at the Jason Lee Middle School at 8500 NW 9th Ave in Vancouver, WA.

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At Jackson Middle School murals depict diverse subjects such as the history of justice in the U.S. and how the geological landscape has changed over time.   Learn More

You can see these mural at the Jackson Middle School at 10625 SW 35th Ave in Portland, OR.
About the history of justice mural:

As part of the study of the history of justice in the United States 8th graders chose images of justice to paint on pieces of the word justice. I cut fireproof backer board letters, then cut each letter into enough puzzle pieces for 80 students. The project was assembled on the schools library wall. The paint is from Metro Recycling.

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This pebble mural at Lake Oswego Junior High School mural is 825 square feet and has nearly a ton of pea gravel.   Learn More

You can see this mural at the Lake Oswego Junior High School at 2500 Country Club Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97034.
About the pebble art mural:

The concept was water current theme with inset ceramic fauna and flora. The requirement of this project was to work with 80 students for 4 hours for a permanent outdoor mural. The students sorted three quarters of a ton of pea gravel for color. With the help of a dozen adults the the pebbles were Thinset onto backerboard. Spaces were left for ceramic figures that were made by art students and attached later. The planning and materials collecting took longer than the event, but everyone was happy.

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Tualatin Middle School art students created this mural that depicts Tualatin's history.   Learn More

Size 2ft.x 40ft
My first mural for a public place was made from salvaged and donated ceramic tile. Students of Tualatin Middle School art classes cast concrete squares in a fiberglass mold I made with their design on the bottom like an upside-down cake. The squares had to be precise to fit in a precast niche in the concrete wall. The scene describes the general history of Tualatin from wilderness to farms to urban enviornment with examples of the recreation opportunities of it's parks.

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