The Murals of Diego Rivera

crayola supplies

Crayons
Construction Paper

household supplies

none

Why?

Discover the value of social commentary as you turn a newspaper story into original artwork similar to Diego Rivera's portraits in murals.

Steps

1. View and discuss the murals of Diego Rivera, a famous Mexican muralist. Describe the imagery Rivera used and the social/historical significance of the portraits he painted in his murals. Compare and contrast Rivera's murals to contemporary murals (such as Philadelphia's Anti-Graffiti Network murals) or those in your area. Identify similarities and differences in technique and subject matter.
2. Read a human interest story from a newspaper. Imagine the people described. Are they old or young? Happy or sad? What does their environment look like? Who are they with?
3. On construction paper, use Crayola® Crayons to draw an interesting person in the story. What do you imagine this person looks like? What might she or he be doing? Include details, such as clothing and facial expressions, that dramatically tell the story.
4. Write a sequel to the story you just illustrated. What might happen next? Display illustrations and stories in a hallway mural.

adaptations

Create a mural of opposites. For each sad story you illustrate, create a sequel that is happy. Include solutions to the problems you encounter in your drawings.

Choose one single day, and illustrate several stories you read in the newspaper. Place many classroom drawings together in a single display, creating a contemporary "slice of life" mural. Date it. Create another similar mural a month later, and compare the events you encountered.

Select a current issue and follow it in the news over time. Create a mural depicting the people and events that are shaping the outcome.

benefits

Children recognize the distinctive characteristics of Diego Rivera's work.

Students discover the role of social commentary in mural making, and recognize important connections between current events and the arts.

Children create original artwork based upon their explorations.

grades

Grades 4 to 6
Grades 7 to 12

subjects

Language Arts
Social Studies
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes
Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards