Self-Portraits

This Self-Portraits unit was taught in a 3rd grade classroom over a span of eight weeks. The unit introduced students to three different types of self-portraiture: identity portraits, object portraits, and observational portraits. The first two types of portraits focused on different parts of the students’ identities apart from physical appearance. Through their artwork, the 3rd graders answered questions such as: What do I enjoy doing? Who is in my community? Who do I love and care about? What objects are meaningful to me?

Goals for the project included having students:

• Identify different forms of self-portraiture,

• Express their identities verbally and visually,

• Practice observational drawing,

• Practice different techniques for drawing facial and body features, and

• Build confidence and love for their identities.

2023