Curious & Compassionate: Self Portrait Project

“What are your hobbies, interests, passions, fears, & hopes?”

“What do you love about yourself?”

“What is a part of your story others may not know?”

“What do others say you are great at?”

“What do you hope to add to the world?”

These are just a few of the self-reflective questions the 5th graders are asked to answer as a part of the Self Portrait Project. This project has been so special for the last 7 years in partnership with a local elementary school. We focus on  lessons on visual storytelling and strong elements in image creation. We learned about consent and responsibility in the visual imagery we create (these are such important lessons in this digital imagery world). Then in partnership with their teachers and amazing volunteers we guide them through the process of brainstorming, creative writing, and deciding how they want to share their story through a self portrait. See more of the self portraits here.

When someone shares parts of their story with you that is sacred and we talk about empathy and appreciating what others share as well.

️Seeing their unique ideas come to life is a joy to watch! The goal of this project is to create dynamic, visual images that help each student share a part of their story and appreciate their fellow students stories. Thank you for allowing me to help you share your story and remember you are living a unique adventure. Be compassionate and stay curious about yourself and others.
If you are interested in bringing this project to your school let’s talk!