Infinity Visual & Performing Arts Teaching Artist Renee Boardman works with Washington Middle School sixth grader, Joniell Camacho, on his mosaic.

Washington Middle School sixth graders stretched their artistic muscles, while also learning more about ancient civilizations, through a collaboration with Renee Boardman, Infinity Performing & Visual Arts program teaching artist.

Students constructed mosaics from paper learning valuable art skills while also better understanding how mosaics were an important part of culture in ancient Rome.

“One of the main focuses throughout social studies is the attention paid to enduring issues that are present throughout all civilizations and eras,” said Lisa Peterson, Washington Middle School sixth grade teacher. “A couple of years ago, Renee was coming in to do a kite project with my class in ELA right after I had finished doing mosaics with them in social studies and saw them displayed. She was describing a mosaic project she had done at the Resource Center, which led to us discussing her being the one to do the Roman mosaics with my students. When students are exposed to hands-on activities, they are more engaged and retain information better. They start making connections to what they have read and discussed. The activities encourage critical thinking and creativity. Students also take such pride in the finished product.”

The Ancient Civilizations social studies unit focuses on the fact that lack of conflict leads to periods of cooperation, innovation and trade. In each civilization, the students spend time looking at the contributions made by the ancient people that have influenced modern society. Mosaics are just one of the many contributions of Ancient Rome. It is an easy project to duplicate without getting into the expense of making actual tiles. Also, most students have seen mosaics in public buildings, swimming pools, or in kitchens.

Under the direction of Boardman, the students cut the “mosaics tiles” from magazine pictures because they were a brilliant glossy contrast to the color paper that they are creating their mosaic on. The students learn about colors on the color wheel, how contrasting colors pop, and how to estimate and try out different designs in filling the sections of the picture, yet making the final product so it looks like the intended picture.

“The mosaics are really a different type of art media then what they’re used to,” Boardman said. “I think it’s important that Infinity and the schools collaborate with art projects like this because art is a creative process and healthy expression of the self. Hands-on projects like this help the students find their own unique problem solving skills, self-confidence and self-expression.”