Art Room Diaries - Identity Boxes

I always like to start the year off with a project that helps all of us get to know each other better. It's also a way for the kids to express their individuality and personal creative style. For my high school class, I came up with an "Identity Box" project.  I was partly inspired by trying to find other ways to use my husband's collection of empty Altoid boxes (remember how he stashes these away in his school desk like a crazy person?) I did manage to convince him to part with a few of them, but I ended up letting the kids use boxes of other shapes and sizes, if they wanted to. The project was very open ended, but I gave them guiding questions to think about, such as:


* What are some important things about you? What makes up your identity? (Family? Friends? Hobbies? Faith? Character traits?)

*What kind of images or symbols could portray those characteristics?

*Will the inside of your box be as important (or more) important than the outside? How will you use the sides? The bottom?

*What types of tool and materials will you need to portray your symbols and characteristics?

I also made my own identity box, in hopes to inspire...

Here are some of the students' work. Their boxes really excited me!  I'm so blessed to be working with such a dynamic, creative bunch. I know we're going to have a great year together.