River Bend Education District high school Raptor students (left to right) Logan Watson, Shawn Hacker, Christopher Turner pose with their completed Raptor mosaic made from individual beans. Courtesy of River Bend Education District

NEW ULM – After months of patience, teamwork, and creativity, the high school raptor class at River Bend Education District high school proudly completed a one-of-a-kind bean art mosaic featuring a raptor.

The project, which took nearly the entire school year to finish, was created using a variety of different beans, glue, and countless hours of hard work and dedication.

Students carefully selected and placed each bean to create shading, texture, and detail throughout the artwork. From black beans and lentils to pinto and kidney beans, every piece played an important role in bringing the raptor to life.

Student Chris Turner said, “this was a great achievement to be able to finish it. And I had so much fun working together to complete it.”

The mosaic required students to focus on precision and problem-solving while working together to complete the large-scale masterpiece.

Beyond creating a piece of art, the project helped students strengthen many important life and workplace skills. Throughout the year, students practiced collaboration, communication, patience, time management, creativity, and attention to detail. They learned how to divide responsibilities, encourage one another, and stay committed to a long-term goal.

The Raptor class are proud of their accomplishment and the lasting impression their masterpiece will leave on the school community.

The finished mosaic stands as more than artwork, it represents perseverance, teamwork, and the pride that comes from creating something meaningful together.

Student Logan Watson said, “it was a very fun project to do because we were able to work together as a group.”