Murals and Street Art
Exploring the history and impact of murals and street art as forms of public expression and community engagement.
About This Topic
Murals and street art transform ordinary walls into vibrant stories that speak to everyone who passes by. In this topic, first class students discover the history of these large paintings, from ancient Egyptian tomb art to lively modern pieces in Irish cities like Dublin and Belfast. They examine how murals celebrate local heroes, share cultural traditions, and address community issues, answering key questions about public art's purpose and appeal.
This content supports NCCA Visual Arts standards, particularly Looking and Responding (8.1) where children describe what they see in artworks, and Visual Awareness (8.2) which encourages noticing art in everyday environments. Through guided discussions, students identify colors, shapes, and messages, developing vocabulary and empathy for artists' choices.
Active learning benefits this topic greatly because young children thrive when they observe real or printed murals, then create their own on paper or classroom surfaces. Collaborative sketching and painting sessions help them grasp public expression firsthand, boosting confidence and connection to their community.
Key Questions
- Have you ever seen a big painting on the outside wall of a building?
- What would you want to paint on a large wall if you could?
- Why do you think communities put art in public spaces for everyone to see?
Learning Objectives
- Identify specific elements like figures, symbols, and text within a chosen mural.
- Explain the purpose of a mural, such as celebrating local history or promoting a message.
- Design a small-scale mural concept that reflects a chosen community theme.
- Compare the visual styles of two different public artworks.
Before You Start
Why: Students need a foundational understanding of colors and shapes to identify and discuss elements within murals.
Why: Familiarity with looking at and talking about different types of art prepares students for analyzing public art.
Key Vocabulary
| Mural | A large painting or other artwork applied directly onto a wall or ceiling, often in a public space. |
| Street Art | Visual art created in public locations, usually unsanctioned artwork like graffiti, stencils, or stickers. |
| Public Art | Art created for and placed in public spaces, intended to be seen and experienced by everyone. |
| Community Engagement | The process of working collaboratively with people in a community to address issues and improve their quality of life. |
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionAll street art is graffiti and against the rules.
What to Teach Instead
Street art includes legal, planned murals commissioned by communities, unlike illegal tagging. Show examples of permitted works in Ireland; group discussions and comparing images help students distinguish positive public expression from vandalism.
Common MisconceptionMurals are just decorations with no real meaning.
What to Teach Instead
Murals convey messages about history, identity, or change. Active viewing walks where students interpret elements build skills to uncover layers, shifting focus from surface beauty to deeper stories.
Common MisconceptionOnly professional artists can make good murals.
What to Teach Instead
Anyone can contribute with ideas and simple techniques. Collaborative painting activities prove this, as children see their group efforts create impactful art, fostering inclusivity.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activitiesGallery Walk: Local Murals
Print or project images of Irish murals from Dublin or Belfast. Students walk around the room in small groups, noting colors, subjects, and feelings evoked. Each group shares one observation with the class.
Sketch My Wall: Personal Mural Design
Provide large paper and crayons. Students draw what they would paint on a community wall, inspired by key questions. Pairs then swap sketches and suggest additions.
Group Mural Creation: Community Story
Divide a large roll of paper into sections. Small groups paint one part of a shared mural about their class or school. Display and discuss the final piece.
Art Hunt: Spot the Public Art
Take students on a schoolyard or virtual tour via photos to find wall art or signs. They photograph or sketch findings and discuss purposes back in class.
Real-World Connections
- Local councils often commission murals to beautify neighborhoods and deter vandalism, like the 'Children's Art' mural project in Limerick City.
- Street artists, such as the anonymous Banksy, create globally recognized works that spark conversations about social and political issues.
- Community art centers, like the Irish Museum of Modern Art's outreach programs, use public art projects to bring people together and foster a sense of local pride.
Assessment Ideas
Provide students with a picture of a mural. Ask them to write one sentence describing what they see and one sentence explaining why they think the artist created it.
Show students two different murals. Ask: 'How are these murals similar? How are they different? Which one do you like more, and why?' Record student responses about color, subject, and feeling.
During a drawing activity, ask students to hold up their work. Ask: 'What message or idea are you trying to show with your art? Who is this art for?' Observe student responses for understanding of public expression.