Students will launch the expressive self-portrait project by observing how facial features, pose, line, and color communicate emotion, practicing quick mirror-based gesture sketches with a partner, and creating a first fast portrait study tied to a current school feeling. They will listen and respond with empathy, name one personal strength and one challenge, and begin building a shared understanding of identity and group belonging through portrait art.

Students will gather portrait evidence through observation, partner conversations, color-mood testing, and a museum-connected critique, then turn that evidence into an empathy artifact, an initial design brief, and a first How Might We statement for an expressive self-portrait.

Students will turn their portrait research into clear design choices, generate several different self-portrait ideas, build quick sketch and color prototypes, test those ideas with peers and a museum educator, and revise based on documented feedback before moving into final refinement.

Students will refine expressive self-portraits through critique, revision, and final user validation, then prepare clear artist statements and short oral shares that explain how facial features, pose, line, and color communicate emotion and reflect school experience.

Students will present their expressive self-portraits to an authentic audience, explain how color and expression communicate emotion, contribute to a shared gallery experience, and reflect on their growth through oral sharing, peer interaction, and audience feedback.