Fingerprint Self-Portraits: Creative STEAM Project, Journaling & Self-Expression

Go beyond the typical self-portrait lesson with Fingerprint Self-Portraits! While most self-portraits emphasize what a student looks like, this lesson provides a snapshot of a child’s personality and self-reflection at a specific time in their life. Middle schoolers and up will enjoy sharing their opinions, their likes and dislikes, and some fun facts about themselves all in the pattern of their very own fingerprint. What could be more unique and personalized than that?!

Fingerprint Self-Portraits are a great way to get to know more about your students and even their families. You can give your students specific prompts to write about or let them have free reign to share as they wish. This project is unique in how it fosters community when displayed for classmates and families to enjoy. It's a fun and creative way to form meaningful connections and build strong relationships in your classroom.

This 25-page pdf includes complete step-by-step instructions with photos, a gallery of student work for inspiration, and lots of helpful tips for success. You’ll learn an easy way to collect fingerprints from students (without having to use a stamp pad!), and two different methods for enlarging fingerprints to self-portrait size. You’ll also get a full page of writing prompts and a page of fascinating fingerprint facts to share with your students. This updated version also includes three already enlarged sample fingerprints to use when students are absent for the first part of the lesson and need to be caught up quickly!

*Please note that if you choose to use your students' own fingerprints (rather than the already enlarged sample fingerprints provided) you will need to enlarge them, which requires some prep time. Using your students' own unique fingerprints makes these finished projects so unique and special, but be sure to plan ahead to allow time for enlarging!

Fingerprint Self-Portraits are fun to make and totally one-of-a-kind! With a narrative written in the child’s own handwriting and “voice”, Fingerprint Self-Portraits make a truly special keepsake. Kids have a blast making them and parents will treasure having these - to add to a scrapbook, or to frame and hang on the wall!

TEACHERS LIKE YOU SAID...

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"It was fun to see how creative my students were and a great way to learn about them personally. It will be a nice getting to know you activity for the start of the year." - Dawn M.

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"I purchased this when I was doing a short term assignment as an art teacher. This was simple to implement and the high school students enjoyed working on this activity." - Caly C.

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"My students loved this resource! It made a great bulletin board too! Thank you!" - Lisa M.

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"This was a super easy in-betweener. The kids thought it was pretty interesting. I didn't enlarge their prints, but used the provided sample prints that best matched their own prints. They got a kick out of looking at theirs under the magnifying glass. - Jennifer T.

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"My 7th graders did this as a 'getting to know you' beginning of the year activity. I loved having their artwork decorate the classroom at the beginning of the year. Thank you!" - Alicia G.

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Cheryl Trowbridge is the founder of Teach Kids Art, a website for anyone who wants to share the JOY of ART with the kids in their life! Visit www.TeachKidsArt.net for more K-8 Art lesson plans, tips, and inspiration. And while you’re there, sign up for my email list to receive my “Tip of the Month” plus my FREE download: “5 Fun Art Activities Kids Can do with a Pencil & Paper”.