Elementary, Middle, High School Art Project: Artist Trading Cards Collage Lesson

This art project is versatile, perfect for elementary art, middle school art, or high school art lessons. This artist trading cards lesson plan focuses on mixed media and collage. I do this project with my Introduction to Art students every year because it's quick, can use any supplies you have on hand, and teaches mixed media.

With this high school art, middle school art, or elementary art project your students will create mini works of art using at least 2 different materials in each card. At the end of the project, they have the opportunity to trade their mini works of art with their classmates or they can join the International Artist Trading Card community, and mail cards to each other to trade.

This high school art, middle school art, or elementary art project lesson plan pack includes:

• A thorough lesson plan (big idea, goals, essential questions, objectives, supply list, resource links, step-by-step implementation instructions)
• PowerPoint with historical information and examples
• Checklist printable for the students 
• Critique printable
• Rubric printable
• Easy to read display lesson plan

This art project lasts for approximately 7 class periods, depending on the duration and frequency of your class times. Students are introduced to mixed media art, how to define the value of art, and not being afraid to experiment with art. 

❤️Your students will LOVE this art project because they get to create tiny works of art on a 2.5"x3.5" size card and trade them in a trading session critique. 

❤️This is the perfect project for varying levels of artists from late elementary school to high school. You will LOVE it because the small size makes this quick, low-stress, and easy on supplies.

The PowerPoint is the introduction to the assignment. It includes an explanation of what mixed media is, examples of different types of mixed media, history, an explanation of artist trading cards, examples, and the description of the assignment. 

✅Check out the preview for a closer look at this high school art, middle school art or elementary art project! 

What teachers are saying…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I introduced this to my grade 8 art class and they love it! They are all very engaged in creating their own cards and feel like their artistic ability isn't as important as their ability to create. Students of all levels of artistic ability and deeply engaged in this project and love using all the different materials to create.” - Middle School Hodge Podge

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “My students love ATC! I use them as a year long anchor assignment for my jr high students. This resource was easy to used and had everything I needed to start these with my students.” - Art With Miss Pearce 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “This was a great project - it was amazing to see my students using all of the different mediums and elements we learned throughout the year.” - Clear Connections 

This lesson is included in my Introduction to Art Yearlong Pack.

• The bundle is available at a discounted price and you won't have to plan a single day of your school year in your Intro class.

Do you enjoy doing mixed media projects with your students? 

• Check out my visual journal lesson here. It's  my students' favorite lesson every year.