Mosaic Tile Art Project (PBL)


Mosaic Art Project Guidelines & Resources

Project #1: Create a Classroom Mosaic Quilt as a Group or Class PBL - based on a particular theme (which can be set as a class or as groups of 4), where each class member contributes a finished mosaic. All the mosaics are joined together by tape (on the back) to make a complete quilt that can go on display! 
Is the group members contributing to one picture or are they making individual mosaics that can be joined together based on a theme? 
Is the final group/class design in the shape of a rectangle, square or a more creative and unique shape?

Project #2: Commissioned Mosaic PBL - students form groups of 3-4 and decide on a target audience (such as the librarian, principal, computer lab, etc.) within the school. They come up with a unique and targeted design for that audience and approach them to see if they would like to "commission" a mosaic. As part of the "commissioned" experience, the group and the target audience will share ideas and come up with a more specific design. The group will take those ideas and through continued back and forth dialogue with target audience finalize the agreed design for the mosaic. The group will them create the mosaic and then present it to the target audience for display.


Mosaic-Making Resources
  • PDF: Mosaic Tile Art Grid (for mosaic project) - print pdf in original size, no "page scaling" - you may want to use cardstock paper instead for durability. Also, you can join mosaic tile grids for the Commissioned Mosaic (a larger layout). 
  • PRACTICE: Recreate a Mosaic
  • INTERACTIVE PRACTICE: Create Your Own Pixel Art - as a planning activity for your individual mosaic quilt, design your mosaic art pattern using pixels. Make a frame that is 20 pixels by 20 pixels (to match the relative size of this mosaic quilt project). Practice making your own design inside that box, as practice for the project above you will be making. Below are two quick samples of pixel art I quickly made on this site. Click on it to see about what it would look like if done close to the size of the mosaic art.
  • INTERACTIVE PRACTICE: Mosiac Symmetry Activity





Common Mosaic Art Project Mistakes

    1. Adding too little glue (pieces fall off) or too much glue (glue is visible and spewing out) 
    2. Not outlining your art design prior to gluing on the tiles (you can easily forget what you meant to do)
    3. Not filling-in all the boxes with mosaic tiles, just the image part (mosaic doesn't look complete) 
    4. Leaving glue on the top part of the mosaic tiles (when it dries it becomes part of the art, taking away from the look)
    5. Using too much of one color may be a problem if there's not really enough of that color to finish your piece
    6. Being too careless in lining up each mosaic (crooked work hints at carelessness and laziness) - I do recommend sticking to the grid pattern boxes when gluing on mosaic tiles (centering them squarely in the box) but if you have other creative ideas feel free to pursue them

4-Step Example Flow Map for Individual Mosaic Design 


Step 1 - Draw the outline with a pencil
Step 1
Step 2 - Color the inside with each color of tile you will use
Step 2
Step 3 - Glue on each mosaic tile, careful to put the right color in the right place while and to line it up with the grid as much as possible
Step 3

Completed Mosaic Tile Final Product
Completed Mosaic Tile Final Product

Commissioned Mosaics Created by Students

designed for Mr. Renzullo, our school's head of security


designed for Ms. Dominguez, our school's librarian

5-Step Example Flow Map for Commissioned Mosaic PBL

Find a model for you idea that you can replicate
 

You then get to sketch it out on paper


You now sketch it out on the grid paper, making sure to use the tile space efficiently


Color the tiles in your design similar to the tiles you will add
This serves as a quick way to help guide you where to place which color piece


To be released soon!!!



Mosiac Tile Art Gallery

Mosaic Tile Art


History of Mosaic Art