Me Dolls: Mixed-Media Self-Portrait Doll

Level 2 strengthens comprehension + application.

Objectives

Materials

Instructions

Materials

Cardboard tubes (toilet paper or paper towel rolls)

Yarn (various colours and textures)

Fabric scraps

Buttons (various sizes and colours)

Googly eyes

Markers or crayons

Glue sticks

Scissors (child-safe)

Pipe cleaners

Learning Objectives

Children will be able to create a self-portrait doll using various art materials.

Children will express their understanding of personal features and individuality.

Children will practise fine motor skills through cutting, gluing, and decorating.

Children will verbally share a detail about their doll that represents them or their family.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Begin by asking children to think about themselves and their family. "Who is in your family? What makes you special?"

2. Provide each child with a cardboard tube. Explain that this will be the body of their "Me Doll."

3. Invite children to choose yarn for hair, gluing it to the top of the tube. Encourage them to think about their own hair colour or style.

4. Offer fabric scraps and ask children to cut or tear pieces for their doll's clothes, decorating them with markers or crayons to represent something they like or a favourite outfit.

5. Children can then glue on googly eyes and use markers to draw a mouth and nose, creating their doll's face.

6. Allow children to add details like button "buttons" on clothes or pipe cleaner "arms" holding something special.

7. As they work, ask open-ended questions like, "What colour shirt is your doll wearing? Does that remind you of someone at home?"

8. Once finished, have each child introduce their "Me Doll" and share one thing that makes their doll special, perhaps mentioning how it reflects them or their family.

Educator Tip

Encourage children to think about other members of their family while creating their doll; perhaps their doll can represent them and their sibling, or even a pet. Ensure scissors are handled safely and supervise gluing closely. For children needing extra support, pre-cut some fabric pieces or offer larger buttons.

Assessment

Observe children's engagement and their ability to use the materials to represent themselves. Listen to their descriptions of their dolls and note whether they can share a detail connecting their creation to their personal identity or family. Collecting a photo of the child with their doll and their verbal sharing can serve as documentation.

Educator tip

Require complete thoughts; photograph work for portfolios.

Assessment

Assess against Early Learning Goals (ELGs). Document evidence of 'expected' or 'exceeding' descriptors. Note: independent application of skills, ability to explain reasoning, and capacity to build on prior learning. Anecdotal notes + product check.

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