What
This strategy involves allowing students to design and create a student mural, art installation, or student friendly area in a school.
How to do it
The implementation of this idea requires thoughtful planning and engaging decision makers support. Educators need to
Create a mural by the library media center to highlight/encourage reading
Support a team of seniors in creating a student lounge or seating area in the school
Getting student voice when re-designing classrooms and other learning spaces
Organize students to support each classroom in creating a calm corner or cool down space
Enlist a group of student to help plan the wall space in a cafeteria or hallway
Things to Consider
This article in The Art of Education gives a step-by-step process of how to plan, organize and implement a student lead mural in a school. It breaks the process down by giving tips and strategies for educators to make this kind of project more manageable and realistic.
Another blog post discusses ways to get student voice in re-imagining learning spaces in a school. Specifically, it focuses on how we get BIPOC students to give input into what a safe space feels like.