Respect: A self-portrait

Respect.  What is respect?  Everyone wants it, and when we don't get it, we feel upset. Just think how students feel when they think they aren't getting it from their peers.  This post has a simple message. To be respectful, treat others the way you want to be treated.  No student is too old to hear or read the story, The Golden Rule by  Ilene Cooper. Click on the link to learn more about this wonderful book.Talk about the book with the students. What is respect to them? A really fun and thought-provoking lesson on creating a Respect Self-Portrait follows.

To instruct students on creating their portrait, you need to teach them first how to use their hands to feel their face as they draw it on paper.  Make sure they have clean hands. Have them feel the shape of their facial parts  by moving their hands on their face. Students should try to draw and feel at the same time.  Use the following guide above to draw faint lines to mark where the nose and mouth will go. You may wish to draw a third line for the eyes.  Have students put their thumb on the bottom of their ear and touch their nose.  The topof the nose will be drawn on the first line; and the bottom of the nose half way betwen the two lines. The bottom of the ear will be draw on the outside of the face across from bottom of  the nose.  Have them extend their pinkie while still touching the bottom of their ear and nose, and feel their mouth. The mouth will be drawn ON the second line. Using their thumb and index finger, place thumb at top of the ear and extend their index finger. They should feel the eyebrows. Draw the eyebrows. Have them feel the shape of their eyes and how far apart they are from the side of the head. Draw the eyes on either side of the nose and just under the eyebrows. Have students feel their hair.  Have them draw on their hair. Every face is different so experiment on yourself before you try with students. Students should draw as they feel as much as possible to develop sensory perception.
Pass out glue sticks, scissors and magazines and/or newspapers.  Ask students to find words (or create words using letters) that define what they think RESPECT means and glue them on the face.  Words should appear for eyes, nose, mouth, ears, outline of face and hair.  When portraits are complete, ask student to write a paragraph about being respectful and attach it to the bottom of the portrait. Gently erase faint lines.

Note: This  post does not have an photo example because we are all look different and think differently. Respect may mean something different to you than me, or maybe not; however,  I hope you will respect me anyway since I am not posting one. Discover on your own this wonderful experience!
Lesson copyright  Lydia Gates 2012.