5th Grade "Wonder" Empathy Portraits
5th grade students had the opprotunity to be involved with a really "wonder"-ful arts integrated project. They read the book "Wonder" in their ELA classes and attended the movie based on the book. When students returned to art class, they created "empathy portraits". Students created self portraits in art earlier in the school year. Mrs. Shoup made photocopies of their portraits and saved them. Students used these portraits in creating their empathy portraits. They chose at least one character from the book with whom they could relate and added their own portrait in some manner. They could use quotes, precepts, or excerpts from the story or create their own precept or motto relating to themes from the story. Some of the themes that were explored included empathy,courage, friendship, family, bullying, tolerance, growing up acceptance, identity, and prejudice.