<h3>Building a picture from many small pieces</h3><p>A <strong>mosaic</strong> is a piece of art or decoration made by assembling many small pieces of coloured glass, stone, tile or other materials into a larger image or pattern. Each individual small piece is called a <strong>tessera</strong> (plural <strong>tesserae</strong>). Mosaics are valued for their rich <strong>colour variety</strong> and the durable, textured surface they create.</p><p><strong>Materials</strong> can include coloured ceramic tiles, glass, smooth pebbles, broken pottery, beads and even seeds, all fixed onto a firm <strong>base</strong> such as a board. <strong>Tools</strong> include <strong>tile nippers</strong> for cutting pieces to size, <strong>adhesive</strong> or cement to hold them, and <strong>grout</strong> to fill the gaps between pieces once they are set.</p><p>The basic steps are: plan and draw your pattern; cut or sort the tesserae; glue each piece onto the base following the design; allow it to dry; then spread grout to fill the spaces and wipe the surface clean. Always cut materials carefully and protect your eyes and hands.</p><div class="callout"><strong>Kenyan context:</strong> Mosaics can be made cheaply from recycled materials. Learners in a Nakuru school could collect broken, colourful tiles and bottle caps to create a mosaic of the national flag or a wildlife scene, turning waste into a striking piece of art for the school wall.</div>