Materials
- Camera or photographs
- Colored paper in flesh tones
- Scissors
- White paper, the size of a place mat
- Glue
- Felt-tipped pen
- Stickers
- Crayons
- Clear contact paper
What to do
1. Ahead of time, photograph the children or ask them to bring a special photo from home. Help the children trace their hand onto colored paper and cut out the hand shapes. Affix the photo and the hand shapes to the center of the white paper. Write the children's names below their photo.
2. On the day of the project, invite the children to decorate their paper with crayons and stickers.
3. When they are finished, write the child's birthday on one hand shape and their favorite color (or other favorite) on the other shape.
4. Laminate the place mat, if possible, or apply contact paper. Invite the children to use their personal place mats at snack time.
More to do
- Games: Hold a scavenger hunt in the classroom and around the school.
- Art: Cover a shoebox or cigar box with a photo and cut-out pictures or the children's drawings; store their crayons and pencils inside it. Create mobiles with photos and pictures depicting information the children would like to share with their new classmates.
-Tracie O'Hara, Charlotte, NC
