Butcher Paper Murals
Objectives
- Students will work in groups to illustrate the four basic layers of the forest, and the wildlife found in each layer.
- Students will present their mural to the class by verbally explaining how each layer is represented in their mural.
EALRS
- ART 2.1
- Apply a creative process in the arts.
Materials
- Butcher paper, markers, crayons, or paint, scissors, magazines
Procedure
- Review with students the different areas of the forest they visited at Port Blakely. For example, young, intermediate, and mature forests, wetlands, snag.
- Review layers of the forest: canopy, understory, floor, and subfloor. Ask if all the areas of the forest contain all the layers of the forest. Note: not all areas have a canopy.
- Divide students up into groups of 3-4, and assign them or allow them to choose one area of the forest.
- Give each group a large piece of butcher paper. Tell them they are to create a picture of their area of the forest. They must include all the layers of the forest found in their area, and examples of wildlife found in each layer. Students may use any available materials.
- Have students present their murals.
- Discuss as a whole class: Why didn't you see some of the animals you know are in these areas? Which murals show the best places for animals to live and why? Which sites offer the best protection in bad weather? Which mural shows a site that would be most likely to provide trees for harvest? Why?
Adapted from "Wrap it Up", University of Washington Pack Forest, 2005