Counter Cards

Students will create all inclusive greeting cards to be sold for trans rights matters in local stores, restaurants and cafes. Students will analyze the ways that people can feel left out in this world. (Perpetuating stereotypes) They will understand how some greeting cards are exclusionary in the ways that they cater to gender roles and norms. Ex. “Boys cards displaying themes such as spiderman, blue, superheroes.” As well as holidays, such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day that can also make others feel excluded.  

Create your own celebration day. What do you want to celebrate? How do you want people to feel when they get that card? 

Unit Objectives

• Students will understand that we can use art to show that we care about another person.

• Students will understand the ways in which messages of exclusion and gender conformity are hidden in cards. 

• Students will be critical of how society's gender roles are often reinforced by tv, movie, or marketing companies. 

• Students will learn relief printmaking skills and understand that art communicates a message. 

Essential Question

• Why do we give cards? 

• What/who do we want to celebrate? What has been celebrated? What has not been celebrated? 

• How can we make others feel included through the card that we make? 

• What is a stereotype? 

• What symbol might you use to communicate your message? Animals, shapes, colors, designs… 

• What are the messages in store bought cards? 

• How can they make us feel excluded? 

• What message do you want to share in your card? 

At the end of this unit, I partnered with the 2nd grade teachers as they began their persuasive writing unit. Students used their writing and critical thinking skills to write advocacy letters to Hallmark.  We also sold the cards at our end of year art show and donated the money to a local LGBTQ community center.