Our World – runner up

Filed under: 2009 entries
School: Osmotherley Primary School
Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Artist: Jane Thorniley-Walker
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Description

Osmotherley School’s ‘Our World’ mosaic project involved every child in the school, ranging from age 4 to 11. The mosaic was intended to tie in with the children’s theme work on global issues.

The mosaic workshops extended over two and a half days, with one day for the younger group (split into two afternoons) and one and a half for the older group. For the Key Stage I children (20), the focus was upon different traditions of geometric pattern. The project leader provided simple designs inspired by African, Aboriginal, Native American, and Islamic designs for the border patterns and the children selected their image and worked in groups of four. Parent helpers assisted with the mosaic workshop, but at all times the emphasis was upon the children’s own interpretation of the orignal drawings. The Key Stage II children (25) took four main themes as their starting point: cultural diversity, environment, social justice, and international links and trade. The children were provided with a number of source images and ideas from which they designed their own drawings and then worked on their individual pieces.

The project leader assembled the patterned borders and themed mosaics and the final work is sited in the main hall of the school. The children have put together a book all about the making of the mosaic and the final product has been a source of pride for all those involved. The mosaic was not funded, but the contribution by the Project Leader was paid for with fundraising by the PTA.