Learning Areas: Art, ECSEL, Literacy
What is this activity?
What skills are being enhanced? What knowledge is gained?
What do you need to prepare for this activity?
Step by step guide
What questions can you ask to promote ECSEL thinking and discussions?
How can you extend children’s thinking?
What skills are being enhanced and what knowledge is being gained through this activity?
Self Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills
Use the following materials to prepare for the activity:
1. Introduce the activity by letting students know that they will all be working together to create an “all about me” collage! Tell them this art project will include things they know and/or love about themselves, and they will be in charge of deciding what materials to use and what the idea will be.
2. Ask your students what they think the main idea for the collage should be: a garden with “all about me” flowers? A classroom with “all about me” students? An ocean with “all about me” fish? Vote on the best plan.
3. Next, ask students to think about the art supplies you have available in your classroom, and decide which materials they would like to use for their part of the collage.
4. Then, go around in a circle and ask each student to name some things about themselves using “I am” statements, e.g. “I am a big brother,” “I have brown hair,” “I am tall,” “I am a soccer player,” etc. (write down their responses to help them recall during the next phase of the activity)
5. Ask each student to choose one of these statements to write down on a piece of paper, along with their name. For pre-literacy learners, support them in writing what they can, and have them watch you write the words they need help with.
6. When they are done, return to your meeting area and have each child introduce themselves using the information on their paper.
7. Now comes the fun part! Make space on the floor or push tables together so students can gather around the butcher paper and start adding materials, colors, shapes, and art ideas to create the collage.
8. After finishing the collage, gather the class around to view their final piece. Ask each child to share what this activity made them feel and which part of this activity was their favorite. Once they have shared, have each child tape or glue their “all about me” paper onto the collage.
ECSEL prompts are helpful questions or statements you can use to promote children’s thinking about emotions. These prompts are related to this specific activity.
What is something about yourself that makes you feel _____?
How does ___________ (e.g., being a big brother, having long hair, etc.) make you feel?
What is something new that you learned about a friend?
How did working together with your friends to create this project make you feel?
Use these questions and statements to extend children’s learning!
1. What are some other things you would like to know about your classmates?2. What are some other things about you that you would like to share with your classmates?3. Did this activity make you want to share more? Why or why not?