Open- Mind Portraits!

What Children Gain:

Helps them think more deeply about a character and the story line

from their point of view

Gives them a way to analyze the book themes in a focused way
Can help them think more deeply in their literature circle or focus unit
groups

Procedure:-- can be done while reading or immediately after

Cut out two basic outlines of the head and neck of one of the

characters in the story

Have students color one to look like the character this is the

portrait page
Students should write on the other thoughts character might have

at key point in the storythis is the thinking page

Glue thinking page on a separate sheet of paper, and glue portrait
page over it to create a flapthe portrait page should be able to lift

up and show the thinking page underneath

Have students share the sentences and images they put on their
thinking pages with each other

Possible Extension of Basic Open Minded

Portrait

Students can also create multiple

thinking pages to look at key points of the story through the

characters point of view- almost like a characters journal through the

storycan be individually or as a class

Relate it to the history unit by completing open mind portraits with

historical figures
Have students choose different characters at the same point of the
story- ex. the big bad wolf vs the first little pig, and compare notes

References:
Tompkins, G.E. (2011). Literacy in the early grades: A successful start for
prek-4 readers and writers. Boston: Pearson.
https://northeastern.digication.com/jessica_squires_eportfolio/Examples_of_S
tudent_Work
http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfdjc/openmind.html