This collaborative mural involved all of the students at Elmwood Elementary. We started by reading the book "Only One You" by Linda Kranz. The message that everyone is different, but we work together and accept differences to become one was the message that we were giving to our students. Each student got a 2 1/2 inch wooden disk to make their own. They could decorate it with designs, things that they enjoy, any of the creativity they could think of. Once all 573 disks were complete it was assembly time. The boards were primed, some heavy math was done to split up the disks, they were laid out and the math was tested on paper first, lettering was done, the purple paw was painted, the yellow paw outline, then once more the disks were laid onto the paw and finally glued. Our wonderful custodian, Dan, put it up over spring break and it was complete! It was so wonderful to see the kids come back from spring break and stand in the hallway in awwwhh! They all search for their piece to make sure it's there :) It's so exciting to see kids take such ownership and pride in their work. They can't get over that this is permanent and they will be a part of Elmwood forever! Below is the step by step process along with some up close pictures of some disks.