This is my current identity panel. I love it!
I found this really great screen door at a local antique mall.
I like to set up the Bead & Wire Center with a mat at each spot. I prepare the wires by placing a bead at the end of the wire (see photo below). I place one at each spot. It is like an invitation. I found a great wooden turntable for the beads.
I love the beauty of the beads waiting to be used.
I poked the children's self-portrait on to the wire. Next, each child filled their wire with beads.
Each child had the freedom to add a many or few beads as they wished. Bead & Wire is a great fine motor activity.
Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of the self-portrait process. The children drew their self-portraits with pencils. We traced the drawings with a sharpie. Then, the self-portraits were mounted on black paper. (Finished size is about 5″ x 5″).
I attached each self-portrait to the screen by sticking the wire through the screen and securing it with another bead.
It looks so gorgeous!
I love it! The children in my family child care home made a stick, wire and bead mobile in September that has been the basis for hanging Halloween icons and Thanksgiving turkeys. It’s getting a little tired looking and has lost its shape weeks ago, so this will be a perfect reuse of the wire and beads! Making it as soon as the kids come on Monday!
This is a wonderful idea! I am definitely going to try this for sure. Just waiting on kiddos to come to my family Center. My grand opening will be in a month!
I love this! Integrating bead/wire with self-portraits?! Genius!!! Hope all is going well!
Inspiring and interesting.
We often hang branches from the same type of ceiling to display artwork, but they don’t weigh much. How did you secure the screen door?
What an interesting idea.
I am going to try the self portraits with pencil this time. Tried doing them with just black marker but many smeared. Tracing over with sharpie is genius!
It is the only way to go!!
So did you trace them with a sharpie, or did the kids do that part?
The kids used the markers. Aren’t they great?
Wow, there is is no limit when they get given the opportunity. What clever little sprouts!
I love it so much .Its simple and natural way .
Great idea !!!!!!!
I’m going to make it with my student.
thank you !!!!!!
I Can Not Wait to Do This When School Starts!!! But I bought two old rose tresses that I’m going to beg the janitor to put up someway so my preschoolers can stand under it and look for their photo / drawing of themselves…. xxxxoooo Joy
An additional great possibility!
I love the idea of the screen door. I am going to be on the hunt for one. The only comment I would make is that they look a bit high for the students to look at them. I know there is also the issue of fire safety with things hanging from the ceiling but I believe if it is in a corner or close to a wall it is OK. Thanks for all of your wonderful ideas. My teaching partner and I always refer to our addition of nature items as “Reggio-ing it up”
The room where this chandelier resided in was extremely limited in space and actually had a lower ceiling. It was a very limited space will built ins or windows covering all the walls. The screen door worked well within the confinements.
And we did have input from a fire department about the percentages and locations of what we hung. Very important. I love your “Reggio-ing it up!” Yes!!!
I found an AWESOME screen to hang up in our room. It is already painted light blue rustic and it has chicken wire in the middle so it will be easy to attach items. I found it at an antique shop and was so excited. I’ll send you a pic when we get it set up. Thanks so much for the idea.
Excited to see it!
That was my thought too – I am 4’11” and I would have a hard time looking up at it! I love the idea though.
I love the screen door idea! I think I will add lights to mine too :-).
It s really interesting to make children do the beading in the wire… Once they come to know it s for their own string
To exhibit self portrait I can’t wait to see the exitement in their face as to when they wud be put up!!!! Awesome idea:)
Thank you for the lovely photos of the children at work! We are planning our self-identity panels next week for our fall classes. This is new to us and I am loving all the ideas you are presenting in these various ways.
I am so glad you are enjoying the ideas! We’d love for you to share your ideas and creations!
Do you have other ideas for displaying the self-portraits? I work in a school district and the screen door would be a no-go. I love your blogs.
There are so many ways to display the portraits. I have hung jute rope like a clothesline, I have hung them on old shutters and window frames without glass. The sky is the limit with it! Let me know how you display it, I love seeing other people’s ideas!
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I enjoy identity panels.The beads, paper, and framing of the pictures are pleasing to the eye. The children enjoy looking at each other, and it’s a great way to develop community.
However, important work like this should be down at the child’s level.Children will reference their picture often and expand on others work.
Other work such as beading or leaves on wire or any other medium can be hung high for texture, depth, and imagery.
What a loving practice, Sally, to ask a child: “Who are you? Can you draw a picture to show me?”
My 6th book begins with the words of a preschooler who when asked his name responded: “I’m nobody”.
How heartbreaking to hear a child say s/he has no identity. Our work begins.
I love self-portraits they are such a good talking point with children and they have such pride in them. Putting the portraits over each other to make a little flip chart makes a very visible reference for the child to be able to see their progress over time; both in their drawing skills and their thinking about the human form. Lovely keepsake to take home when they leave nursery too.
Isn’t it so interested to see how children see themselves? So lovely!
Pencil then sharpie…Simply genius!
Every idea I see through Fairydust teaching is so motivating for me. Thank you so much for posting the self portraits – self identity chandeliers.This method of display gives a sense of respect, and prominence to the art. I’m sure the children can see their work – (which is why the sharpie is used) classroom ceilings in general are not cathedral height. Lower the height if needed to cozy up an area over books or housekeeping centers. Thank you for sharing!!
I am so excited to try the beads and the wire to display my classroom self portraits this year.
I have really enjoyed the Summer Conference this year and I will be trying many new things in my Reggio-inspired classroom in Ferndale, Michigan.
Oh my goodness the Summer Conference was one of the best yet! I am still so inspired by it! Bead and wire is one of my favorite activities because children can create such beauty with ease!
This is awesome. I love it beads and wires
This is awesome idea of hanging self-portrait pictures! Thanks for sharing.
I love the idea. We are always challenged by space and fire code. I also like the idea of including lights as someone mentioned.
I love it. This is what I miss about being in the classroom. I find that when the students are at home the parents are talking for them an all the work is done to perfect.