A concrete block is turned into public mosaic art by the 2nd grade

A huge concrete block in the middle of the playground was turned into a beautiful piece of public art by the 2nd grade class.

A construction project unearthed a huge concrete block in the middle of the school yard and it was too large to dispose of or casually move. The second grade decided that they would turn it into a piece of functional art.

The students first cleaned the block, let it dry and then each day of the project we went outside and a teacher applied ceramic tile adhesive while students created designs using tumbled recycled glass. When the whole thing was covered with glass, we let the adhesive dry. When the adhesive was dry we took sanded grout and grouted the whole thing.

It turned out beautifully; like an unexpected exhibit in a museum, it jumps right out at you when you are on the playground. Children climb on it, jump off it and use it as a bench/lounging spot.

Six years later those second graders are in 8th grade and the mosaic monument is still an integral part of the playground.