Fold two pieces of printer paper in half width-wise together, and staple along the fold to create a booklet. Instruct each student to write his name and draw a picture of himself on the front cover. The inside pages of the book can pictorially describe three things that make him special. Pictures could describe hobbies, appearance or attitude. When applicable, encourage the students to write a sentence pertaining to each picture, or for young children, write what children tell you about their pictures.
No two people on the Earth have the exact same fingerprints. The children in your class might feel special after analyzing their thumbprints with a magnifying glass. Instruct each student to press her thumb into a washable and nontoxic ink pad or a plate with slightly watered-down paint and then make thumbprints on a piece of paper. If possible, enlarge each child's prints using a photocopier so that each child can see the slight differences between her print and other students' prints, thus helping each child feel special and unique.
Instruct each student to write a "special statement," similar to a business's mission statement. The statement should consist of one sentence with a powerful message about the most important characteristic that makes each child unique. Attach the "special statement" to the student's drawn or painted self-portrait, and display on the class bulletin board to help other students, teachers and parents gain an understanding of the special kids enrolled in the school.
Each child is given a name at birth, and hearing their names can help make children feel special. Encourage younger students to practice writing their names using different art mediums such as paint, crayons, markers, pudding and sugar (have children write in a paper plate containing sugar). Have older students think of a word that describes their personalities beginning with each of the letters in their names.