The Abington Heights Middle School began an extraordinary project in 2009 led by art teacher, Karen Taylor. The project involved the creation of a thematic mural designed around a main landing gear tire from the Space Shuttle STS-flight 95, which was from John Glenn’s last mission on loan by NASA. The effort to create this mural involved 5th grade students at the Abington Heights Middle School who had been learning about space exploration and the fusion of art and science with the help of the visiting artist-in-residence, Nikki Moser.
The mural was created from a collection of puzzle pieces that contain scraps of photos and information on space exploration and its effect on everyone’s life o earth. Not only did the students learn about NASA, but they also learned how artists incorporate information for diverse subject matter in order to illustrate concept.
The students learned how to properly balance their compositions by learning about concept and principles of design including color, line, structure, and shape. These students learned first hand how to incorporate science and art.
