It is important for students to experience collaborative projects that benefit the larger school community. So many times they will assume everything they touch (or create) is theirs to keep and take home. Having classes work together on semi-permanent pieces that beautify the school help instill a sense of community and ownership. This piece was so easy to create, looks amazing and lasted many years.

Collaborative Flowers

To prepare for this project, we needed a space in our school building big enough and where others could see it. The frame was already on the wall in the school around a bulletin board, so we painted it to give that pop of red color.

Then, students painted tagboard. Although they free painted, I have them clear instructions to make use of pattern to avoid smearing all the paint together into brown.

Once the papers were dry, they randomly cut them into leaves. They didn't put their names on the papers they painted, and they were passed out randomly for cutting. This just helped with the concept of ownership over the larger project rather than individual pieces.

Community effort!

The rest of the flower was created with leftover fabric from curtains that were hanging elsewhere in the school. The background is blue butcher paper with lighter blue polka dots painted on it.

This is such a wonderful experience for students because it allows them all to be successful and part of something that took a community effort.

No matter the ability level with art, they all took part to create the beautiful piece.

Use this project as a valuable teaching moment.

I briefly mentioned a few benefits of doing collaborative art with your students. However, I’d like to expand a little more so you can really see the big picture.

Balanced Talents

For starters, collaborative art includes and balances individual talents with the common goal of the whole group. No one talent seems superior to the other. Instead, you can place the focus on everyone’s participation being needed in order for the project to work.

Appreciation for Differences

Students must learn to appreciate each other's differences and similarities in a supportive atmosphere of teamwork. Again, while a group effort is the goal, you can also highlight the differences of the students being the key for making the project successful.

Focus on Cooperation

Collaborative art focuses on cooperation rather than competition. It’s easy for students to look at the work of another and instantly measure themselves against it. This type of art project gives you the opportunity to compliment students and help them see their role in the big picture - the finished product.

Final Thoughts

I strongly suggest doing some type of collaborative art project in your classroom. If not often, aim to do it at least once a semester. There are many projects that can be used for collaborative art. Not to mention, you could also get students to help brainstorm a few ideas. You may be surprised by what they come up with!