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.