All
About Me
I choose this theme to help children learn
about themselves and their classmates.
This Activity will help children understand that everyone is
unique and special. Children will also learn to recognize and celebrate one’s
own physical features.
Activity
Face Puzzles:
Materials: Color close up photograph of each
child’s face, cardstock paper, glue and scissors.
Description: Take a close-up picture of the
child’s face. Have pictures enlarged. Give each child their photo and talk
about what they see. Teacher can have a photo as well. Teacher can introduce
her photo to the children by saying, “look I have red hair, what color is your
hair Brooklyn?” Continue this interaction until all children have had the
chance to share. Have children take their pictures and glue them onto the
cardstock paper. Explain to children that once the picture dries, it will be
cut into pieces to make a puzzle. After the picture dries, teacher will cut the
photos into sections of the eyes, nose, mouth and chin. Place each child’s puzzle
into a small bag. Give each child the bag with their puzzle in it. Teacher can
say, “I wonder what’s in your bag, I just gave you? Let children share before
they open their bags. Once everyone has shared have the children open their
bags and put their puzzles together. Teacher can use her puzzle and start a
conversation by saying, “look I have blue eyes” as she shows her piece of
puzzle with her eyes. Allow children to take their puzzles home or place them
in the manipulative area in the classroom.
Variations: Make a puzzle of each child’s
family. Make a puzzle using a picture of the whole class.
Books: I have included
these two books that deal with hair and skin color as it relates to the
activity of children recognizing their facial features as well as the color of their
face and what type or color of their hair.
1. This activity can be done with
children ages three to kindergarten. According to York, “racism is a social
condition that affects our personal lives, as well as the society at large.
During childhood, it affects our social and emotional development. Without even
knowing it, racism shapes our personal and racial identity; it shapes our
experience in American society. Children learn social roles and become members of
American society through the process known as socialization” (p. 40).
2. This activity is appropriate as it
will introduce children to their differences as well as promote self-awareness
through socialization. This theme will help children learn about each other and
help children develop their racial identity. As York states, Children receive
information about race through their social environment. This includes messages
to racial appearance. These messages come from socializing agents such as
parents, friends, school, and media (York, p.41). By doing this activity the
teacher will be able to give children accurate information about race and teach
children that the color of their skin does not define who they are.
3. The three goals for anti-bias curriculum
are: Recognize, appreciate, and respect the uniqueness, beauty, value, and
contribution of each child. Increase children’s ability to interact, talk and
play with people who are different from them. Foster positive self-esteem and positive
self-concepts in children.
Conclusion: This theme and activity will help children learn about themselves as well as others. As the teacher takes each child’s photo she will promote a positive self-esteem as they smile or laugh into the camera. When the children are gluing their photos onto the cardstock the teacher will be prompting self-awareness as she talks about her picture, the children will talk about themselves. When the children are given their puzzle pieces they will be able to focus on their individual features such as their eye color, skin color and hair type or color. Putting puzzles together also promotes fine motor and cognitive development.