How to Make a Mosaic With 8X11 Paper

Simple shapes such as this flower and heart work well for paper mosaics.

Making a paper mosaic creates a chance to learn an art that continues to serve a decorative function in cities and homes throughout the world. According to the visual arts website of the California State University at Chico, Romans made the earliest mosaics out of beach pebbles to strengthen floors. They used colored stones to create increasingly complex designs. Mosaic artists use broken tiles called tesseraes to construct mosaics. Mosaics form fountains, sidewalks, plazas, tabletops, framed art and other artwork. For a kids' craft, use 8" by 11" paper and shapes to make an original mosaic design.

Things You'll Need

• Books or pictures of mosaics
• Newspaper
• Plain white letter-size paper or lightweight cardboard
• Pencils
• Colored paper such as construction paper
• Safety scissors
• Glue stick or white glue

Instructions

1. Give each child a sheet of plain 8" by 11" paper or lightweight cardboard, several sheets of construction paper in different colors, safety scissors and glue.

2. 

   A spiral mosaic to copy for a kid's paper mosaic.

   Pass around pictures of simple mosaics to give the kids ideas as to the kinds of designs they can create. Demonstrate how to draw basic designs in pencil. For example, draw a flower, a beach ball or a rainbow.

3. Show the kids how to cut the colored paper into small squares about ½-inch or 1-inch wide in the colors they need to make their designs. Let younger children make the larger squares.

4. 

   Kids can make sun and cloud paper mosaics.

   Help the kids apply glue to the mosaic squares and stick them to the design on the 8" by 11" paper to create the paper mosaic. For example, place colored paper squares in curved stripes for a rainbow.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask the kids about mosaics they've seen and discuss the books and pictures. Point out the durability of tile mosaics used on floors, walkways and walls.

• Assist younger children with cutting paper or prepare paper squares ahead of time for the kids to use.

• Demonstrate creating the paper mosaic by placing the paper tesseraes separate from each other. Show the kids that the paper tiles don't touch and the background shows between the tiles.

• Show kids examples of real mosaics, if there are any available.

• Make frames out of construction paper for the mosaics if desired.

References

• Califiornia State University Chico: Visual Art: Mosaic

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• The Art Institute of Chicago: Starry Night and the Astronauts by Alma Thomas and Lesson Materials