A portrait is a type of artwork created by artists that illustrate the likeness or image of a person or persons. They can lend insights into history and biography. Portraits can also prompt writing in the classroom, inspire students to create self-portraits, and even offer fruitful ties to multiple disciplines, such as science and mathematics.

In this Learning Lab Collection, educators will learn how to teach students to spot visual clues in portraits and respond to them. In order for students to do so, they need a set of tools to guide them. In this section, educators will find the following tools:

• Defining Portraiture provides educators with a basic lexicon on portraiture.

• Elements of Portrayal are a series of visual clues that can help students observe and analyze portraiture. Moreover, these different elements relay not only the story of a portrait’s sitter but also the historical and social context in which the portrait was created.

• Teaching Strategies are a series of protocols that educators can use alongside portraits to bolster learners’ engagement and study. Some of these will be used in some of the lessons throughout the Out of Many curriculum guide.

• Introducing Portraiture to Students describes an activity that educators can use to begin working with portraits. Students may also fill out the Reading Portraiture graphic organizer as they investigate each portrait.

Reading Portraiture 101 is associated with the Out of Many Curriculum Guide Series, of which Expanding Roles of Women is the first.

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