Portraits

Simple portrait lesson with cute results. See Deep Space Sparkle.
I do a portrait lesson in almost every grade every year. For this, we start with oval and rectangle stencils. There's no way around it, kindergarten students cannot consistently draw an oval the proper size or shape for a head. By first grade they're experts but save some paper and move the class along by giving them the stencils. It's good practice for stenciling anyway.
The children trace the head shape on a paper toned like their skin. I explain that its not going to be perfectly like their skin color, but close enough. I usually just have three tones to keep it simple. If a child wants a different color I don't mind at all.
The children cut out the head shape and a rectangle for the neck and glue it down. Pass out the white paper and have them draw two eyes. They color circles inside for their irises, trying to match their eye color.

The next week, the children draw on the rest of their facial features including ears. I show them how to draw each feature but they usually have their own ideas and that's fine. Then we glue on some yarn hair with glue set in a dish and painted on their paper with old brushes. They can cut the hair to match their hair length. Children like to mix yellow and brown hair to get a more realistic blonde.

The last week we cut out a shirt and decorate it. Sometimes they draw the shirt they are wearing that day!