Our American Mosaic

January 2018 – The first grade social studies curriculum at RCS takes students on a “world tour” that begins in the United States.
“When planning an art project to complement their studies, I was thinking about the variety of people we have in the U.S.,” Lower Campus art teacher Geri Heinrich said. “I’ve always liked America being described as a mosaic of people rather than a melting pot. In art terms, a mosaic is a larger work made up of a variety of smaller pieces, and I wanted to use this idea to visually represent the people of the United States.” 
 
Mrs. Heinrich showed her young students some examples of mosaics (made of tile, stone, paper); she asked them why we might describe the American population as a mosaic.
 
“The more thoughtful students realized that, just as mosaics are bigger creations made from many small pieces of varying colors, shapes, and sizes, our big country is made up of a wide variety of people.”
 
How students created Our American Mosaic:  First graders each drew two faces on small pieces of “multicultural” colored construction paper, which they then cut out and glued into an outline of the United States. Next, the students cut their leftover paper scraps into smaller pieces and glued these down, filling the empty spaces between the faces (but leaving “grout” lines). 
 
The result? A collaborative mosaic that is a joyful celebration of our country’s diversity. 
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439 Cantitoe Street 
Bedford, NY 10506
phone: (914) 244-1250
Rippowam Cisqua School is a PreK-Grade 9 independent day school in Westchester County, New York. RCS offers challenging academics built on innovation, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, wellness, leadership, service learning, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.
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