Endangered Pollinators Mural

The Process

STEP 1. DESIGN A MURAL

First, we needed to come up with a design for a mural. We looked at several other organization's bottle cap murals and decided to use the theme of Endangered Pollinators

STEP 2. SKETCH IT OUT

A team of 6th, 7th and 8th graders sketched out a small, to-scale drawing of the mural design, which included the three main animals: Humming Bird, Bee, and a Butterfly

STEP 3. COLLECT BOTTLE CAPS

We then put out a request to the school community to send in bottle caps for the mural. We made collection bins and put them in the cafeteria, main entrance, and library. The community came through with bottle caps of all sizes and colors. Since this was after the COVID-19 Pandemic Vaccine bottle caps were also donated.

STEAM Bottle Caps V3.mp4

STEP 4. SKETCH THE FULL MURAL

After the bottle caps started rolling in, we drew a larger, actual-sized version of the scale model sketch on a large piece of paper.

STEP 5. TRACE ONTO THE PLYWOOD

Once the large sketch was done, parts were cut out by the 6th graders, and then traced onto the plywood by the 8th graders in pencil.

STEP 6. PAINT THE WOOD

After the design was transferred to the plywood, the appropriate colors were painted on the plywood by the 7th graders to cover up the gaps where the bottle caps wouldn't meet.

STEP 7. WASH THE BOTTLE CAPS

Since the bottle caps came in contact with food/drink products, to ensure a safe and clean environment we washed all of the bottle caps with soap and water.

STEP 8. DRILL AND GLUE THE CAPS

All of STEAM worked together to clean, drill in, and glue on the bottle caps. Most caps were simply drilled in, but the vaccine caps were too small, so they had to be glued on using very strong super glue.

STEP 9. PAINT THE SCREWS

To take away from the glare of the metallic screws, we painted them the colors of the bottle caps for a more complete and finished look.

STEP 10. FINISHING TOUCHES

To finish off our part in the project, we painted missed areas and screws and fixed any bottle caps that had fallen off. We made sure all the caps were on tight, and signed our names on the back of the mural!

STEP 11. HANG THE FINAL PRODUCT

The county sent professionals to hang our mural on the school walls where students can walk by and be inspired, We placed a QR Code on this website for people to scan with their phones, so they can learn about its importance and learn how we created this work of art!

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