Self Portraits in Alpha Class
Source/Author: Candess Briggs, ES Teacher
October 21, 2022
To help foster a sense of self, and learning about the self in relation to the community, Mrs. Briggs’ began offering her Alpha students mirrors and time to study their own facial features. The class discussed and shared their observations.
“The children noticed facial features, skin colors, and the different hair they have,” Mrs. Briggs shared. “New vocabulary and an evolving perspective about their identity grew. Students discovered and commented on things like, ‘I have sprinkles (freckles) on my face.’ ‘My eyes are brown. Do they see brown best?’ ‘I have these little tiny things in my eyes. Do you?’ ‘Look at my tongue, it moves up and down.’”
The young Chargers also explored facial expressions along with an understanding and vocabulary of different emotions (developing emotional literacy). “This is my sad face.” “This is my angry face.”
Next, the students were offered loose parts with circular wooden trivets to make representations of their faces. They were challenged to think about the shape of the material and where to position it on the trivet.
Then the children were invited to draw self-portraits in front of the mirrors. The portraits show what the children see and notice as important. For some it’s their eyes or their eye lashes, for others it ’s their hair.
Self-portraits provide an opportunity to see a child from their eyes! It is an intimate, bold declaration of identity.
Find more photos here.
Find more photos here.
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