But you know what helps students stay engaged with learning? It’s when they can express themselves through art! Here’s a fun activity that will connect kids to the traits they share with their classmates.
This bio poem and self-portrait activity will help your kids get to know each other and help you understand what matters most to them.
Below are directions to complete the bio poem and self-portrait project with classroom ideas you can use all year.
Table of Contents
Biom Poem and Self-Portrait Project
Part 1: How to Write a Bio Poem
To get things rolling, have kids become familiar with bio poems by sharing your bio poem first. Next, have them brainstorm what they want to include in theirs.
For the brainstorming session, use a bio poem template or have them jot down the answers on a paper to the questions.
The bio template and directions to complete this project can all be download from my shop to make this project a breeze!
Questions for Bio Poem
•Think of three words that describe you!
•What do you love or love to do?
•What do you wonder?
•What do you fear?
•What makes you happy?
•What would you like to do or have?
•What do you dream of doing in the future?
After brainstorming their response, they can start writing their poem by following the format for a bio poem.
Bio Poem Format
Line 1: Write your name in the middle of the paper.
Line 2: add three adjectives that describe you.
From the third to the eight-line, the poem starts with the word who.
Line 3: who loves and add two things you love to do.
Line 4: who wonders and include two things you wonder.
Line 5: who fears and write two things you fear.
Line 6: who feels happy when and complete the sentence with two things that make you feel happy.
Line 7: Who would like and finish the sentence with one goal.
Line 8: who dreams of and write a big goal.
Line 9: This is the last line in the poem. Write your last name in the middle of the paper.
Part 2: Draw a Self Portrait
The second part of this project is to draw a self-portrait.
Many older kids' expectations of a self-portrait are to draw like a professional artist. Drawing a self-portrait doesn't have to be as elaborate as a painting.
There are videos online your kids can follow to learn to draw a self-portrait. This online video shows step-by-step how kids can draw a self-portrait.
There are multiple ways to go about drawing a self-portrait.
Part 3: Putting It All Together
The last step of this project is to put the different parts together. There are also other ways to do that! Look below and see which option you like.
How to use Bio Poems in the classroom
When we think of projects, the first thing that comes to mind is displaying them on bulletin boards around the school or in the classroom.
But there are so many other uses for this bio poem and self-portrait project in the classroom.
Below are different ideas to use your student's bio poem and self-portrait.
Classroom Idea 1: Bio Poem Museum
Teachers can place the bio poem and self-portrait project around the room. Then, students can walk around the room reading each other's bio poems and write down what they have learned about the person.
Classroom Idea 2: Shoutout Holder
Pick a place to display the bio poem and self-portrait projects in your classroom for the entirety of the year. Throughout the year, make it a classroom tradition to give each other positive shoutouts. You can have the kids write the shoutout on sticky notes and give it to each other.
As the kids received their shoutouts, add the note to the project to prevent it from getting lost. When they have a bad day or feel down, encourage them to read the positive messages they have received.
A compliment can make someone's day!
Classroom Idea 3: Classroom Ownership
An effective strategy to build classroom community is to give kids ownership of the classroom. One way to do this is by having pictures of themselves and the class.
Having the opportunity to draw a picture of themselves is a way kids can have ownership over their classroom.
Instead of displaying the projects anywhere in the classroom, find a special spot where the projects can be visible to everyone, including your kids.
For example, taping the bio poems and self-portraits to be seen as soon as you walk into the room makes a statement. It also saves time if you have to show student work during an open house or curriculum night.
Classroom Idea 4: Before and After
Each year, as educators, we know kids grow academically and socially. But many of them are not aware of this change. Writing poems at the end of the year and comparing bio poems from the beginning of the year can make that change visible.
It's fun to find out if their goals or hobbies have changed throughout the year. My favorite part of this activity is to see their handwriting change and finding out they don't fear being in fourth grade anymore.
Bio poem activities will always be popular among kids in schools. Check out these ideas for extending this project in other subjects.
- Writing Bio Poems to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.
- How To Teach Bio Poems on the 1st Day of School
- Creative Ways to Bring Poetry Into the Classroom
- Celebrating Black History Month Through Poetry
Writing bio poems and self-portraits as an activity for the first week of school easily doubles up as a classroom community activity and a way to brighten up the classroom with student work.
