Historical Self-Portrait

6th grade students are now in Unit 2, 

Perspective: Self in Relation to Others.

For their first project in this unit, 

students created a self-portrait in which they imagined themselves 

as a preteen in a different time period in American history. 

Here are their finished artworks:

Period 1:

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:

Jumping rope in 1980; Hula-hooping in 1960; 

Using a pager in 1990; Protesting segregation in 1960

Period 2:

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:

Jumping rope in 1980; Skateboarding in 1980; 

Skateboarding in 1980; Hula-hooping in 1960

Period 3:

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:

Watching "Hey Arnold" in 1990; Playing soccer in 1980; 

Skateboarding in 1980; Playing basketball in 1990

Period 5:

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:

Hula-hooping in 1960; Skateboarding in 1980; 

Hula-hooping in 1960; Picking cotton in 1920

Period 6:

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:

Hula-hooping in 1960; Jumping rope in 1980; 

Hula-hooping in 1960; Playing hopscotch in 1980

"Batik Cloth" Project

Sixth graders' third project to explore the concept of Identity was a "Batik Cloth" inspired by the work of Nigerian-British artist, Yinka Shonibare. 

Shonibare creates headless mannequins dressed in 18th century, European-style clothing made from Nigerian-style batik cloth. These artworks are a commentary on the concepts of cultural identity and globalization. 

To explore their own cultural identities, sixth graders created "Batik Cloths" using a crayon and watercolor resist technique. On their batiks, students drew images that represented aspects of their culture (Nationality, Locality, Religion, Dress, and Food). Some students chose to cut their "cloths" out in the shape of clothing items.

Here are the results!

Period 1:

Period 2:

Period 5:

Period 6: