In Israel, Tilapia is called “Peter’s Fish” because it is the type of fish that Peter caught when Jesus told him to cast his nets on the other side of the boat. It’s the food fish that lives in the Sea of Galilee.
Peter’s Fish was also the first symbol of Christianity. Catholics in North America eat fish during Lent because it is a symbol of what they believe in. Fish is a white meat that doesn’t have much blood in it. Because Christ shed his blood on a Friday, Catholics refrain from shedding blood on Fridays during Lent.
Israel has a lot of mosaics in their old buildings. If you go to the historic churches there, you can see mosaic tile floors that date back to 300 AD, and older. These mosaics are made from small pieces of colored limestone. The photo for this article is a picture of the floor at the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes that was made by the Byzantines. It marks the spot where Jesus performed this miracle.
We have mosaic floors in Pensacola, too. The floor at the Pensacola Regional Airport is a Terrazzo floor that is similar to a mosaic. It has pictures of dolphins that are made from small pieces of marble. Some of the public schools have foyers with pictures of their school mascot.
Children in first grade and older can make a mosaic of a fish that is similar to the picture. To make this mosaic, you will need
- Copies of a pattern
- Small pieces of colored paper cut into ½ inch squares
- White glue or glue stick
- Small tray or dish to hold paper pieces
- Examples of mosaic pictures
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=mosaic+art&qpvt=mosaic+art&FORM=IGRE#x0y509
http://www.mosaicmercantile.com/gallery/pages/artists/irinacharny.html
Draw a simple outline of a fish that is similar to the one in the photo. Make copies of this picture on stiff paper.
Cut scraps of construction paper into small pieces that are about ½ inch square. Put the pieces into a shallow dish to keep them from falling on the floor. A plastic tray from a TV dinner, or a foam meat tray, will work well for this purpose.
Look at pictures of mosaics. Notice how the tiles are arranged in rows. Notice how different shades of a color are used to make shadows. Notice how the tiles are evenly spaced creating rhythm or pattern in the picture.
Apply a small amount of glue to the pattern page. Work a small area at a time. Follow the outline of the fish, applying squares, leaving a small amount of space between them. Continue working until the fish is completely covered.
Apply glue around the fish, and follow the outside line in the same fashion using a different color. Continue working until the page is covered.
Assessment:
- The student spaced the tiles evenly.
- The student arranged the tiles in rows.
- The student covered the entire area.
- The student used glue in a neat and responsible manner.
Sunshine State Standards
VA.A.1.2.2 Uses control in handling tools and materials in a safe and responsible manner.
VA.C.1.2.2 understands how artists have used visual languages and symbol systems through time and across cultures.
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