Self Portraits in Detail
This project is a
one-to-one process, but finding a little time to spend with each child
individually is well worth the effort. The technique of calling attention to
detail can be extended to any activity.
Objectives
Children ages 5-6 can
draw recognizable pictures FM III
ages 2 ½-4 can discriminate spatial prepositions Lang. IA
ages 2 ½-3 can name at least one color correctly Lang. IB
ages 2-2 ½ years can point to and names smaller body parts Lang. IA
and they can also point to 4 or 5 body parts or clothing. Lang. IA
Materials
Large sheets of paper
(18" x 24" at least); felt pens; full length mirror.
Procedures
1. Tape sheet of paper on the wall or easel
next to the mirror.
2. Have the child stand in front of mirror. Place your hands round his/her head
and ask what it is. Make outline of head with your finger and ask if it is a circle
or a square.
3. Have child draw a large circle for his/her head. Alternating between mirror
and paper, point to each feature on face, ask what it is, and have child draw
it. The idea is to get the kids to draw as much detail as possible: eye has
more than one circle, eye lashes, eyebrows, nose has two nostrils, etc.
4. After head is completed, have the child hold his/her arms out to side and
trace outline of body with your hand, asking what shape it is -- round? Corners
or curves? Have the child draw that shape.
5. Stretch child's arms out horizontally and ask what they are. "Do they
come out of your body or out of your head? Draw them coming out of your body.
What's at the end of your arms? Fake a fist. Do you see the circle?" Trace
the circle with your finger. "Now open your hand. See the fingers? Draw a
circle at the end of your arm. Now draw your five fingers." Count while
(s)he draws fingers. "Draw other hand and fingers."
6. Run your hands along length of child's legs and ask, "What are these?
Do your legs come out of the bottom of your head or the bottom of your body?
Draw your legs coming out of the bottom of your body. What's at the end of your
legs? Draw a circle for your shoe/foot." Depending on the response, add
toes or details of shoes, e.g. shoelaces, x’s for laces, o’s for bows.
7. Add other details of clothing such as barrettes in hair, stripes on shirts,
anything obvious that can be simplified for the child to draw as shapes. Ask if
there is anything missing. Children sometimes add more detail of sleeves or
something they want to draw like a pet or a favorite toy.
8. Help the child get their name on the paper and display it.

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