Seventh Grade Artist Trading Cards

Before making our trading cards students were given PowerPoint presentations on creativity & originality, also one on high quality examples of trading cards.
I gave students some activities to draw out their creativity that are based on techniques used in writing classes. I emphasized story, message, and emotions. Additionally, students were given several mini lessons regarding materials, and techniques for creating engaging trading cards including Styrofoam & marker prints, sand paper & crayon transfers, crayon and black tempera etchings,tape resist, glue resist, rubbings, water soluble marker washing, and line drawing.

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Mouse Hole

Food Chain

I stressed to the "artsprouts" that they should try to tell a story in their art. This can be hard for them. They feel like there isn't a story in their head.
To make things easier I had the students think of an object(s) to go with each letter of the alphabet. We talked about what are boring objects and what are exciting objects. Apple, dull. Anteaters, exciting.
While creating the list students usually get inspired by some creature. The "difficult" part of conceptualizing is suddenly over. Helping children to conceptualize is a difficult task. The beauty of art education is that the visual thinking skills are constantly being challenged and strengthen. The hope is that, eventually, the children become people who can't find enough time to create all that they design in their imagination.