All About Me #1

Purpose: This is a great project for children as they begin to step out into the community of the preschool classroom.  Like All About Me #2, it offers them an opportunity to tell their own stories.  As children dictate their stories they see that their spoken words can be written down and read back.  This helps them see that printed words have meaning, a critical early stage of learning how to read and write.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Materials/Advance Preparation:

You may want to ask parents to get the children "warmed up" for this activity by speaking with them about the things that they like to eat and do. 

• 1 hanger per child (Go to your local dry cleaner and ask for metal hangers)
• Oaktag (12X18)
• Writing paper
• Yarn
• Markers
• Tape
• Glue
• Scissors
• Mirrors

Directions (see illustration above):

1. Precut oaktag using a hanger as a guide for the shape of the shoulders and head.
2. Place mirrors out and ask children to draw eyes, nose, and mouth on the oaktag head.  Be careful not to to direct how they represent their features; simply help them identify (if necessary) what facial features we have.  You can extend the discussion to include the relation of each facial feature to the senses.  What do our eyes do?  Our ears? etc.
3. Have yarn, scissors, and glue available for them to cut hair and glue it in place, if they wish.
4. Have children dictate their “all about me” stories and write them on writing paper.
5. Tape writing paper below shoulders.
6. Tape hanger to back of head and shoulders and bend out the hanging part of the hanger so that it can be used to hang up their “autobiographies”  for all to see.  (I like to teach the children the word "autobiography."  It's a very impressive word for a young child!)

Notes: This project will probably take a few days to complete. It provides a great opportunity for getting the children to speak about themselves and their interests.

 

Eric Gidseg

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