In this project, students trace their hand onto tagboard. Then they cut out magazine images that represent a part of their personality. They glue the images onto their tagboard hand to form a collage that illustrates themselves (or their life).
As students find pictures to use they should also be looking for letters to spell their names. The letters will be placed on top of the pictures so they can't be too large.
At the end of the lesson, when projects are finished, students share their self portraits with the class by telling about the images they chose to put on their hands.
Click here for a gallery of student "Handy Self Portraits".
Mr. Kulzer's example above includes grapes as a centerpiece because he likes grapes, loves the color of these, and because the way they are grouped in a bunch reminds us of how we all have neighbors. Another bunch of grapes has been added to the bottom as well. An architectural drawing of a house is included because Mr. Kulzer drew the plans for his house and helped build it. There is an abstract sculpture of a man and woman in the doorway of the house representing how he is a sculptor and how he loves his wife, Karen. Candles also represent Karen because she loves candles and brings a glow to our family. Deck Rails are shown in the pinky and ring finger because Mr. Kulzer bult the decks on his house. He loves Corn on the cob and the smell of pine.