BTS Art Activity - Torn Paper Portraits

I love incorporating art...especially the first week.  It is so telling about your kids.  You can see who is driven, who is the perfectionist, who rushes to complete things, who has trouble sharing, who follows directions to a T, who thinks outside the box, who marches to their own drum, and who will take all the time in the world to finish something. It's great to just observe the kids and see what happens. 

Here is one of my favorite art projects that was handed down to me by a former 4th grade teacher/librarian. Thanks Emily! 

Torn Paper Portraits

my example

Not too much involved with this project, just construction paper and glue.  I show the students how to tear the paper by holding it in both hands and pulling it apart very slowly to control the tear.  I also remind them that art doesn't have too be perfect, so just go for it!

I always model making the head and the placement of the eyes.  It's important to walk the kids through making eyes, so they don't turn out creepy.  I usually pre-cut white squares to start them off and then have them choose their eye color, then add the black (also pre-cut squares).  We do this altogether to avoid confusion.  

Other than that, I leave mine up as an example and the kids always surprise me.  They all take their own approach and they all look so different in the end.  They look great...abstract for sure... but great.

At the end, use a sharpie to have the kids write their name somewhere.

You can accompany this art project with a bio poem and hang in the hallways or in you classroom for a nice back to school bulletin board that showcases your class.  Happy paper tearing!!