At the beginning of each school year, I have my second graders create portraits of themselves to hang up in the room. I read a book about being an individual and being unique. Usually I use I Like Myself. The kids love the illustrations and how the main character loves so many things about herself. It has a positive message that I hope my students will adopt in their own lives. After we read the story and talk about what we love about ourselves, I give my students the outline of a head. Then I give them mirrors, colored pencils and crayons and have them create a detailed portrait of themselves. On their shirt they write "I like myself because____" and fill in the blank. I give them yarn in all different colors for their hair but everything else they color. After we share these, I hang them up on clotheslines above the windows in my classroom. It makes a great display for back to school/open house and the parents love trying to find their child and figure out what they love about themselves. Click the picture below to get the portrait outline.