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_St
udent_Work

http://www.ux1.eiu.edu/~cfdjc/openmind.html