Grade Level: Middle School (6–8)
Lesson Duration: 55 minutes
Subject Area: Visual Arts
Lesson Title: Expressing Identity Through Collage
Students will explore the art form of collage as a means of self-expression. They will create collages that communicate aspects of their identity by thoughtfully selecting, arranging, and layering visual elements.
VA:Cr1.1.6a – Combine concepts collaboratively to generate innovative ideas for creating art.
VA:Cr2.1.7a – Demonstrate persistence in developing skills with various materials, methods, and approaches in creating works of art or design.
VA:Re7.2.8a – Compare and contrast contexts and media in which viewers encounter images that influence ideas, beliefs, and experiences.
VA:Cn10.1.8a – Create a work of art that conveys personal meaning and explain the connections to personal experiences.
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Identify collage as an art form that combines various images and textures into a unified composition.
Plan and create a collage that communicates aspects of their identity.
Apply composition techniques (overlapping, balance, contrast) to strengthen their work.
Reflect on and explain the personal meaning conveyed in their collage.
Vocabulary: Collage, composition, overlapping, balance, contrast, unity
Function: Students will describe, plan, and create collages to communicate meaning.
Syntax/Discourse: Students will engage in discussion (pair-share/gallery walk) and written reflection using prompts.
Magazines, newspapers, scrap paper, old books (pre-screened)
Colored construction paper (base)
Scissors, glue sticks/liquid glue
Markers or colored pencils (optional for enhancement)
Teacher-prepared examples of collages (e.g., Romare Bearden, Hannah Höch)
Planning worksheet (brainstorm + sketch space)
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Display example collages and ask:
“What do you notice about how these artists use different pieces to make something new?”
“How could a collage tell a story about who you are?”
Define collage and its purpose in self-expression.
2. Teacher Demonstration (5 minutes)
Model tearing/cutting, overlapping, and layering.
Show how text, color, and imagery combine for meaning.
3. Guided Practice: Planning (10 minutes)
Students complete a short planning worksheet:
Brainstorming prompts (3 words that describe me, important hobbies, cultural/family symbols).
Quick sketch for layout.
Students begin selecting images that match their brainstorm.
Teacher circulates, asking probing questions and modeling strategies for balance and unity.
4. Independent Practice: Creating Collage (25 minutes)
Students cut, arrange, and glue images on construction paper.
Teacher circulates for feedback and support, reinforcing techniques (contrast, balance, overlapping).
5. Reflection & Closure (10 minutes)
Gallery walk or pair-share.
Reflection prompts:
“What story does your collage tell about you?”
“Which choices were most important in communicating your meaning?”
Revisit objectives: Collage = fragments combined into a meaningful whole.
English Learners (ELs): Provide word banks with visuals for key vocabulary; allow oral instead of written reflection.
Students with IEP/504s: Provide pre-cut images, extended time, or alternative materials.
Advanced Learners: Encourage incorporation of symbolism, abstraction, or thematic layers.
Formative Assessment:
Teacher observations during guided and independent practice (checking for application of brainstorming, composition techniques, and use of materials).
Summative Assessment:
Completed collage and student reflection.
Rubric Criteria:
Creativity/Originality
Composition/Use of space (overlap, balance, unity)
Craftsmanship/Effort
Reflection on meaning
Exit Ticket/Reflection Question:
“How does your collage communicate who you are, and what was your most important artistic choice?”