Drawing and Personalizing Our Self Portraits

Grade: First · Subject: Identity & Self · Time: 30 min · Difficulty: Standard

Learning Objective

Students will use their imagination to draw and personalize their self portrait, expressing their unique identity and practicing observational skills.

Teacher-Selected Inputs

Grade: First
Subject: Identity & Self
Skill: Imagination, Fine-motor control, Observation, Name-writing, Self-expression
Educational Setting: General Education
Difficulty: Standard
Duration: 30 min

Why this printable fits

This printable provides a simple, focused space for first graders to draw their own face, color a frame, and add their name, supporting identity awareness and imagination in a subject centered on Identity & Self.

Vocabulary

PRE-TEACH

imagine: Make a picture in your head
identity: Who you are
portrait: A picture of a face

USE DURING LESSON

frame
name
draw
color
decorate

Materials

Printed Self Portrait template for each student
Crayons or colored pencils
Pencils or markers for drawing

Prep

Print one Self Portrait template per student
Prepare crayons, markers, and pencils at each table

Lesson Steps

Introduction and Modeling6 min
Teacher actions: Show the Self Portrait template to the class. Model drawing your own face step-by-step. Model coloring the frame around the face and writing your name on the tag. Explain what a portrait is and what they will do.
Teacher script: Today we are going to draw a picture of ourselves called a self portrait. Watch me draw my face, color the pretty frame, and write my name so everyone knows whose portrait it is.
Example / model: Teacher draws simple eyes, nose, mouth on the blank face shape, colors the frame red, and writes teacher's name on the tag.
Printable use: Teacher uses the template to model each part: drawing face, coloring frame, writing name.
Move on when: Students watch attentively and are ready with blank printable and drawing tools.
Support if needed: Provide sentence frame: 'I am drawing my ____, my ____, and my ____.
Drawing the Face6 min
Teacher actions: Instruct students to imagine their own face. Guide them to start drawing basic facial features. Circulate to assist individual needs and prompt their imagination.
Teacher script: Now, imagine your own face. What do you see? Start drawing your eyes, nose, and mouth inside the blank face shape.
Example / model: A student draws two eyes, a nose, and a smiling mouth inside the outline.
Printable use: Students draw facial features inside the blank head shape on the template.
Move on when: Most students have started drawing facial features inside the face shape.
Support if needed: Use an assigned partner to help describe features or a word bank card with feature names.
Coloring and Decorating the Frame6 min
Teacher actions: Explain how to color and decorate the frame around the face. Show examples of simple color choices. Allow students to color their frames and decorate as they like.
Teacher script: Now let's make the frame colorful and pretty. You can choose your favorite colors and color the flowers too!
Example / model: Teacher colors frame blue with yellow flowers as a model.
Printable use: Students color the frame border and flower decorations on the printable.
Move on when: Most students have colored and decorated their frame on the printable.
Support if needed: Provide reduced task by asking student to only color the frame first.
Writing Their Name6 min
Teacher actions: Help students find the name tag on the template. Model writing your name clearly on the tag. Support students as they write or trace their own names on their printable.
Teacher script: Now let's write our names on the tag below our picture so everyone knows who it is.
Example / model: Teacher writes name clearly on tag area; a student traces or writes own name.
Printable use: Students write or trace their names on the name tag area of the printable.
Move on when: Students have attempted to write or trace their name on the tag.
Support if needed: Provide sentence frame or word bank card with student names for support.
Sharing and Wrap-Up6 min
Teacher actions: Invite a few students to share their self portraits with the group. Praise imaginative details and name writing. Hang or collect portraits for display.
Teacher script: Would anyone like to show their self portrait? Tell us about what you imagined!
Example / model: Student shares: 'I drew my brown eyes and curly hair!
Printable use: Students hold or show their completed printable during sharing.
Move on when: Students willingly share and talk about their portraits.
Support if needed: Allow assigned partner to help the student share with the class.

Formative Check

Step: Drawing the Face
Ask students to: show their drawn facial features inside the face shape
Look for: Students include at least eyes, nose, and mouth in their drawing

Success Criteria

Students can identify at least three facial features on their drawn self portrait for 80% of the class.
Students can write or trace their own name on the name tag of their printable with legibility for 80% of students.
Students can identify at least 2 key details or vocabulary words connected to Identity & Self.

Differentiation

Support: Pair students with a buddy to describe and remind facial features and help with drawing or name writing

Scaffold tool: Assigned Partner

Standard: Students use the template independently to draw their face, color the frame, and write their name.

Extension: Add more detailed features or clothes to the self portrait using imagination and drawing skills.

Early Finishers: Draw a friend’s portrait next to their own on a blank sheet of paper and share with the teacher.

Accommodations

Provide pre-cut crayons or thicker pencils for fine motor difficulty.
Allow oral naming of features if writing name is challenging.
Use tracing lines for facial features as a guide.
Seat near teacher or partner for additional support.

Common Misconceptions

Students might think they need to draw perfect faces rather than their imagination.
Some may not know where to start with facial features.
Students might struggle to write or spell their names without support.
Students may color outside the frame instead of inside the lines.

Assessment

Observe if students include key facial features when drawing.
Check for presence and legibility of name written on the tag.
Listen for ability to name or identify features and explain their choices during sharing.

Teacher Notes

Standards

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.4: Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas clearly.

IF SHORT ON TIME

Keep: Introduction and Drawing the Face
Skip or shorten: Skip or shorten the coloring and decorating step.

FOLLOW-UP OPTIONS

Create a 'All About Me' page with favorite things and family details.
Draw a portrait of a family member or friend and describe them.
Write a sentence using the new vocabulary words about your self portrait.

HOME CONNECTION

Ask your child to describe their face and name some parts they drew in their self portrait.

Source summary

Based on: Self Portrait

Printable summary (sanity check): Lesson plan created for a first grade Identity & Self lesson focused on imagination skill using the Self Portrait Planerium printable.