Byzantine Mosaics (500-1450)
We studied the Byzantine Empire today, and looked at mosaics from Revenna, Italy.
I wanted to make mosaics with tile but I didn't want it to be too frustrating, especially for the younger boys, so we made mosaics just with paper. They had small squares of colored construction paper and a sketch of a bowl of fruit with places to put the squares.
They had already noticed that the people in mosaics were rather stiff looking.
Even using just paper gave them the idea of how difficult it is to make art in this way.
student, age 15, special needs
I was pleased that they all were unique.
student, age six
student, age 13
student, age 9
I used already printed out pages, but a simple drawing could be sketched out without much difficulty. You don't have to have them mosaic the whole drawing either. They can add watercolor to the rest of the page once the glue dries.
student, age 15, special needs
I was pleased that they all were unique.
student, age six
student, age 13
student, age 9
sources and inspiration:
More ideas for hands-on activities on the Byzantine Empire at A Pilgrim's Heart.
