Kindergarten Self Portraits

Kindergarten students learned about the artist Henri Matisse and his use of pattern in backgrounds.

First, I passed out mirrors so students could see themselves as they drew their self portrait.  I demonstrated a few key steps on the board for portrait drawings (head shape, eye, mouth and nose placement, hair, etc).  After they were done drawing, they traced their drawing in black sharpie. The next step was coloring!  It's important to remind Kindergartners that they don't have blue or green skin....only tan, brown or peach crayons!

For the background students used recycled paper and crayons to create patterns and designs.  After the background was complete, students cut out their self-portrait and glued it to their patterned paper.