Encourage Creativity with Name Art

What do you see when you look at this picture? A funny monster with glasses, braces, and 80s hair? The name Brandi?

1. Fold a sheet of paper in half, lengthwise (like a "hot dog").
2. On one half of the paper, write the names in block letters with pencil. You may want to write them for students, or give students stencils to trace.
3. Fold the sheet of paper closed, and rub.
4. Open the paper again. A faint reflection of the name should have appeared on the other side.
5. Trace the other side.
6. Have students turn their picture into something-- a character, an object, a scene. Encourage creativity!

These make a great story starter. Also, use as an extension activity for the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. Pair with a writing, "I like my name, because..." or "What My Name Means to Me."

How do you use the book Chrysanthemum in your classroom or home? Share in the comments below.

Have fun!
Brandi
A Peach for the Teach