You will want to divide the students into groups, each group will choose up to five different prairie plants, butterflies, birds or other animals to represent on the prairie. It may be helpful to make a master list of the species you want to include and then divide those among the groups. Butterflies or birds can be attached with wire or pipe cleaners so that they project into the room. When students have chosen the species they want, they can draw an outline of the animal or bird onto paper, then photocopy the outline onto a transparency. This will also be helpful if students want to include more than one of each animal on the mural.
Students can also draw the plants and animals freehand.
Have students make labels to identify their animals and plants. These can be posted at the base of the mural. Have plants overlap and have several of each kind of plant. When students have finished their prairie, have students examine from different distances, from up close, from the back of the classroom. Have them write about their impressions of the completed mural.