Digital Self-Portrait Posters

Objective: Artists will be creating a digital self-portrait that uses their art and words to express their feelings about a cause that is important to them.

Overview: Our voices have power! And it is important to teach students that they can use their voice to speak up about issues that are important to them.

We will begin by reading the story “Say Something!” written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. We will then reflect on the following questions before beginning our work:

1. What would you like to see change in the world?

2. How can your voice change the world?

3. Why is it important to use your voice?

4. How can we inspire others with our voice?

5. And How can you use your voice to create a more just society?

Students will use PIXLR (https://pixlr.com/editor/) to create their digital work. For inspiration we will be looking at various posters created for Amplifier, a non-profit design lab that builds art to amplify the most important movements of our time. Discover more at https://amplifier.org/

We will also understand how our words can turn into action! To help introduce this topic we will read the story “I am One: A book of Action” written by Susan Verde and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. I will introduce my students to several young activists who have used their voice to speak up for what they believe in and whose actions have created a positive change in the world.

Finally, students will share their work with each other! It is important to take this opportunity to engage in critical conversations with students. This includes conversations about identity, power, privilege, and the ways that injustice affects our lives and our society. As educators we need to lead students through these conversations so that they can begin to think about how their words and actions can create change. For this, I recommend using the “Let’s Talk” guide created by Teaching Tolerance: https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2019-12/TT-Lets-Talk-December-2019.pdf

Our voices, art, and actions can change the world! ¿Estás listo para decir algo?

Artists & Inspiration: Amplifier.org

Student Art