Title – Self-Portraits

By – Amber Hutchins

Primary Subject – Art

Grade Level – 1-3

Procedure:

On the first day of school, each student is given a 9×12 sheet of white construction paper and multicultural crayons. I demonstrate how to use the entire sheet to draw and color a self-portrait

(make sure you leave enough space along the edge so that you can frame it)

. We talk about details especially in their clothing. I then take a digital picture and print it out.

On the second day of school, during math, we review shapes and patterns. After this lesson, I allow the students to pick out a frame for their self-portrait. I make these by folding 9×12 sheets of construction paper in half and then cut, starting on the folded edge, a rectangle. When the sheet is unfolded it should be a frame. When the students pick their frame they are instructed to decorate it by making a pattern around the frame.

(Sometimes I give this as a homework assignment.)


After the frames are complete, I glue them to the child’s picture and glue the digital picture to the back for comparison at a later date.

These portraits are hung around the room with a gallon-size ziploc baggie attached to the bottom. Each time the student has a new piece of work they would like to display, they slide it into the ziploc baggie below their picture.

This is a great way to share student work and the parents love it on open house night.

On the last day of school, I have them do another self-portrait. They are amazed at how much better they can draw and color. They take both portraits home.

E-Mail

Amber Hutchins

!