At Westside, we believe young children learn best through hands-on exploration, reflection, and meaningful connections to the world around them. That belief is at the heart of our Pre-K self-portrait project—an evolving, yearlong journey that helps students develop self-awareness, appreciate differences, and build a foundation for understanding identity.
Each spring, Pre-K students proudly share their work in a joyful Self-Portrait Gallery, the culmination of months of thoughtful observation, creativity, and expression. Each piece represented a step in their exploration of the question: Who am I?
Throughout the year, students revisited this question using a wide range of materials and approaches. They begin with family portraits, discussing what makes each family unique and drawing the people closest to them with care and detail. With mirrors and loose parts like pom-poms, yarn, and buttons, they craft loose parts self-portraits—choosing materials to express how they see themselves. Inspired by The Colors We Share, they explore skin tone and mix their own paint to create custom self-portraits, celebrating the beauty of their differences. They learn about photography and capture portrait photos of themselves and their friends, then turn to peer portraits, studying each other’s faces and translating their observations into drawing.
This project is more than just an introduction to art—it’s an early, developmentally appropriate invitation into the deeper work of identity formation. At Westside, we intentionally build this work into every grade, starting in early learning and growing in complexity over time. In Kindergarten, this continues through a yearlong project on identity that culminates in the Kindergarten Identity Museum, where students explore the many facets of who they are—including family, traditions, culture, and personal interests—and share their discoveries with the wider community.
By engaging in this work early, our students learn to see themselves clearly and appreciate the identities of others. They build empathy, confidence, and the language to talk about both differences and shared experiences—essential skills in becoming compassionate, thoughtful members of a caring community.
Thank you to our Pre-K teaching team and art teacher, Gina, for guiding students through this meaningful work, and to our families for joining us in celebrating their growth. The gallery is a beautiful reminder of the joy and intention that define a Westside education