Understanding Goals-These questions help students understand what they are working on:

How can we work together to find the underlying thread of humanity and learn acceptance and understanding?

How can art skills help us learn about ourselves and others?

In what way can art skills help us learn about what we look like and who we are?

Will looking at our similarities and differences help us move beyond first impressions?

Toward Action Research questions-some of the things I am puzzling about:   

Does revisiting the theme of “Who am I, where did I come from, how am I the same and how am I different" help build community, respect and understanding?

Does repeated exposure to this theme help with student develop art skills? Does it help with tolerance?

I am interested in how charged and frustrated students become when the assignment is to draw their self-portrait, even students with advanced skills. These same students are adept, capable and comfortable drawing or painting anything else, but not themselves!

What is it about drawing themselves that is so charged?….is it the mirror?
Is it about how they look? Is it how they are changing? Are they more suceptible to peer pressure?

Is there a change in attitude as students get older and approach their teen years? Is it just the older students who are anxious and self-conscious of their changing selves, or is it universal?
Is it that they have photo-realistic pre-conceived ideas?

How many students are happy with their final work?
How many are satisfied it once their work is on display?

How can the "charge" and self-doubt be diffused ?

What kind of scaffolding is neccessary to support student success and engagement?