Seventh-grade students in Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Mac Millan’s classes recently completed a mural project following their reading of The War of the Wall by Toni Cade Bambara. This hands-on project served as a meaningful conclusion to a unit focused on the concept of belonging to a community. Throughout the unit, students explored how communities are defined by shared narratives, and how individuals contribute to the collective story. The mural project highlighted how each student, through their unique perspective and creativity, contributes to the broader narrative of Rutherford, illustrating the diverse yet interconnected ways in which everyone plays a role in the town’s community.
The project began with a brainstorming session where students reflected on their discussions about community. Each student then created an individual panel, using crayons, colored pencils, and markers to visually represent their personal understanding of community and belonging. The panels feature key themes, images, patterns, and words that symbolize what it means to be a member of the Rutherford community. The completed mural stands as both a creative expression of each student’s perspective and a powerful visual representation of their collective exploration of community and connection.
