Progressive Window Painting

• Phyllis Burstein
with students at Walter Payton College Prep, Chicago 


Challenge:
Students create a group mural painted on windows that evolve throughout one day.

Materials: water-based paint (washable children's paint or tempera paint work well),  paint brushes

Process:
• Students in each class throughout the day get in groups of 3 or 4. Each group is assigned a section of window.
• The first class of the day begins painting on window. Each subsequent class continues the painting, building upon the previous imagery, without consulting with groups from previous classes.

Lesson Expansion:
• Outline with black paint first and fill in with color.

• Have students outline the buildings, trees, and objects they actually see when looking out the window.
• Have groups of students swap window areas and/or groups while in class.