Start off the new school year strong and decorate your bare bulletin boards with this engaging and eye-catching All About Me Self Portrait project.

Designed for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade elementary students, this first day of school activity uses a single sheet of paper and a simple gate fold (two folds) to create an interactive keepsake and bulletin board display. When folded, the outside features the outline of a head for students to decorate in their own likeness, while the backside provides lines for a custom writing task. When opened, students reveal one of eight versatile inside brochure pages chosen by the teacher. Ideal for the first week of school, a quick writing and work sample, Back to School Night or Open House, or goal-setting portfolios!

How It Works & Low-Prep Instructions

Prepping this activity is super easy and designed to save teachers valuable planning time:

• Simply print out the outside self-portrait page and select an inside brochure page to print.

• Copy your two chosen pages double-sided (flipping on the short edge) with the print scale set to 100%.

• Guide your students through folding on the dotted lines, and let them loose to work.

Product Features

• Mix-and-Match Flexibility: Includes 6 different self-portrait options and 8 different inside pages so you can easily customize the activity to fit your students' grade level, fine motor skills, and writing stamina.

• Built-in Writing & Creativity: Features dedicated writing lines, quick-answer "Would You Rather" columns, graphic side-panels (like Places I've Been & Want to Go and custom favorite trackers), and spaces for a thoughtful beginning-of-the-year writing prompt.

• Low Prep & Print-and-Go: Designed for busy teachers. Just print your chosen layout combination, hand out crayons and pencils, and let your students' personalities shine.

What's Included

• 6 Cover Variations: A variety of self-portrait drawing and drafting templates for Grades 3–5.

• 8 Inside Page Variations: Flexible layout options featuring guided writing prompts, sentence frames (including I Am poetry), and interactive side panels.

  • All About Me (5 facts, 2 family facts, loves, dislikes, and learning interests).

  • I am, I am not, I want, Warning page.

  • Attitudes About School & Would You Rather page.

  • Snapshots of My Life (with photo frames to illustrate) & My Favorites.

  • Pieces of my heart, Places I've been, I am great at, Favorite lunch, Things that make me smile.

  • I Am poem, The heart of me, Selfie Station.

  • Writing lines in center with blank sides.

  • Writing lines full page.

• 10 Beginning-of-the-Year Writing Prompts: Writing options designed to help teachers get to know their new students' goals, hobbies, and unique traits.

• Teacher Guide & Tips: Simple printing instructions and assembly tips for folding and hanging.

I'd love to hear how you use this resource in your classroom! Feel free to email me at iteachiwrite@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions you may have.

Copyright © iTeach & iWrite by Betsy Newmeyer.

All rights reserved by the author.

Permission to use for single classroom use only.