Student will be able to create self-portrait using an animal/plant as a metaphor for him/herself. Middle school students can't help but be fascinated with the life that became the art of Frida Kahlo. Kahlo's graphic imagery (El peque–o venado: Frida's head on the body of a deer riddled with arrows) starts a conversation with students. Discussing Kahlo's self-portraits with the class, students begin to understand the many ways visual artists communicate their stories. Some self-portraits may look nothing like the artist's outward appearance. Language arts and studio art classes combine as students create a pastel self-portrait using the animal or plant as a metaphor for themselves. Students then explain their personal metaphor in a one-page paper. Vocabulary: self-portrait, metaphor, Frida Kahlo