Open Mind Portraits Lesson Plan

September 30, 2015

Length of Lesson: 20-30 minutes

Learning
Objectives

Materials

1
2
3

Open Mind Portrait Template

Excerpt from Peter Pan
Art Supplies: pencil crayons, scissors, staples

Purpose

Students can consider ideas of character and details in text

Helps students think from the characters perspective
Reflect on story ideas because students will recall the story
Helps students comprehend literature
If used throughout story it can show how the character/story progresses and to
see the structure of the story
Used for grades 3-8

Introduction

Body of Lesson

Students will:

Identify characteristics of Peter Pan by constructing an Open Mind Portrait

Explain the purpose, uses, and procedure of open mind portraits

I will welcome the class and give them the

agenda for my lesson (reading Peter Pan and
making an open mind portrait. I will show
them my model of an open mind portrait
I will give my expectations of how they
should behave during group work and art
project respectful language and no
horseplay with the scissors

Assessment Methods

I will explain the purpose of open mind

portraits and when it is best to use them in
the classroom setting
I will explain how to make an open mind
portrait draw image of character,
draw/write character traits, cut out, staple
I will hand out a copy of the excerpt of
Peter Pan and remind students to pay
attention to character traits of Peter Pan
I will read out loud while the students
follow along.
After weve read, students will begin to
work quietly on their open mind portraits

- Thumbs up; thumbs down: I

will ask the students to give me
a thumbs up if they understand,
or a thumbs down if they need
me to explain it again. (I will
do this after I explain the
assignment, and again after I
read the excerpt)
- observe while they build their
open mind portraits to ensure
everyone is understanding/do
they look confused? Are they

but must use their inside voices

Once everyone is finished with their open
mind portraits they can begin to discuss and
share their ideas with a partner

whispering to their friend

asking for help? Can they
come up with some character
traits?
- observation also allows me to
ensure they are using the art
materials properly and
maintaining an appropriate
noise level

Closure

Sponge Activity

Discuss as a group: What are some alternate

applications of the open mind portraits for
different subjects and grade levels?
Sample Answers: for social examining
historical/biographical figures, use
technology such as powerpoint for older
students, make many to understand how a
character develops over time
How can open mind portraits be used more
effectively for the next book you read?
how could you apply this to a novel?

- How can you apply this to a childrens book

- What if there are no descriptions of character

- Observe to see who is

participating in the discussion
and who is not. Ensuring
everyone is included and
joining in the conversation.