Crafts provide a safe outlet for kids to use when introducing themselves to others.
Art can help kids get acquainted with one another. Through the implementation of various arts and crafts projects they can describe themselves with abstract descriptions, poetry or with personal keepsakes and mementos. Even the shyest kid in the class will come out of the shadows with these projects.
My Keepsakes
Guide the children in a shadow box craft project. Have the kids bring their favorite toys, games, books, pictures and souvenirs to school in a shoe box -- the items must be able to fit inside the shoe box for this project. After painting the inside of the boxes, have the children tape or wire the items they brought inside their boxes. They can attach their belongings to the sides, top, bottom or the very back. When they have finished filling their boxes, have them place a 2-inch wide picture frame made from poster board over the opening. Instruct the students to write their names on the bottom of the frames before gluing them onto the shoe boxes.
Book of Dreams
Encourage the children to think about their futures. Give them magazines to look through and let them cut out pictures of places they would like to visit, vehicles they hope to drive or work they'd like to do. After they cut out the pictures, have the students glue them onto construction paper. Each page of the construction paper should represent a different dream, such as travel, occupation, vehicles, family, animals or houses. Staple the pages together so the students can pass their "books" around the class to get to know one another.
Doppelganger
Send the kids in search of their doppelgangers. Years ago the word was associated with an evil type of twin; however, it has come to simply represent someone who bears a striking resemblance to another person. This doppelganger is usually well known and found in folklore, stories or movies. The children bring a picture of their "twin" to school and see if the other kids can guess who he or she represents. Be sure to ask the children why they chose the people (fictional or real) and what they feel they have in common with them.
Rock Star
Pass out squares of poster board that are about the same size as an old record album cover. On the front of the cover, have the kids come up with a name that describes them or their style and paint or color it with markers. On the back, have them write a list of songs that tell others about themselves in a quirky, serious or comical way. They can even include a "special thanks" section or dedication.
Tags: boxes have, construction paper, have them, poster board, their boxes