2: Picture yourself

Encourage the children to draw self-portraits as part of related child-initiated activities.

Resources

Paper - any colour except white or brown! - in a variety of sizes, but not too big (small sheets of paper often lend themselves better to portraits); crayons, pencils and paints with a wide range of tone (see Resources, pages 18-19); and safety mirrors, small hand mirrors and/or wall mirrors.

Play suggestions

* Allow the children to spend uninterrupted periods of time just looking at themselves from all angles.

* Make sure the paper and colouring media are accessible and allow the children to make as many portraits as they wish. The coloured paper will often provoke them to colour in their faces, which is less likely with white or brown paper, and encourages them to actively explore skin tone.

* Provide a box or tray in which the children can leave any portraits that they would like to display (or you might want to use for assessment) but allow the children to take as many home, or give to others, as they wish.

* If possible, have a display area in which they can take responsibility for mounting and displaying their own work.

* Encourage the children to sign their portraits. Also provide printed name slips for the children to select as this is a useful name reinforcement activity.

* Don't forget to sit at the table and study your own face in the mirror and make your own portrait. Encourage the children to ask parents, visitors and members of staff to join in too.

* Adults can draw attention to scars, blemishes or birthmarks in a positive way.

Possible learning outcomes

* Observes others while they engage in the activity

* Uses the mirrors to look at themselves, fleetingly/for short periods/for concentrated periods of time

* Comments to themselves/to others in first/second language

* Uses drawing materials randomly

* Uses drawing materials appropriately but for their own purposes/for suggested outcome

* Signs portrait with growing accuracy

* Mounts and displays pictures with increasing skill

* Comments on similarities and differences

* Experiments with colour mixing to arrive at a shade they are happy with

* Uses descriptive vocabulary to describe their personal features

* Displays positive awareness and acknowledgement of their own and others' images and attributes

* Shows awareness of safety issues around mirrors and their use.