Make a Self Portrait from Nature

What You Need:

• Sturdy, durable paper like oak tag or poster board paper
• Pencil
• Mirror
• Shoebox
• Glue
• Elements from nature (grass, rocks, dirt, twigs, leaves, pine cones…)

What You Do:

1. Introduce the self-portrait activity to your child. Give her a piece of oak tag or poster board so she can first make a sketch. Set up a mirror for her to look at while she draws so she can accurately capture her features on paper.
2. Give her a shoe box and have her look around her natural environment so she can start gathering items to use in her self-portrait.
3. Then with her paper in front of her and a mirror set up or close by, encourage her to experiment putting together different objects to make her face, eyes, hair.
4. Once she's assembled a look she likes she can use the glue to make it all come together.
5. When her natural self-portrait is finished, have your child present her masterpiece to you and tell her to explain the choices she made. Why did she pick certain items? Is she happy with the result? What does she like best about her self-portrait? What effect do the natural materials have on the overall piece?
6. Once the glue dries, hang your child's natural self-portrait up in her room or somewhere in your house for all to see!