Character Education Coming Alive through Student Murals
In addition to incorporating the Pillars of Character into the entire curriculum and expecting students to exhibit those character traits, teachers invite fifth grade students at MercervilleElementary School to create artwork with character education themes. A committee comprised of teachers, parents and school counselors choose pieces that an artist and students will later depict in wall murals. A parent who is also an artist by trade volunteers her time to paint the murals, incorporating artistic input from the students who created the original artwork. Students also participate by painting some parts of the murals. Student artists and the parent volunteer then sign their murals. The murals serve as reinforcement of the character education skills and core values taught in classrooms. This character education project has continued for several years with student artists who have since graduated and returned to appreciate their work and the gifts that they have left behind.
