Art On A Cart Elementary Middle School Art Lessons Low Prep Art Activities

This Art On A Cart Bundle was made for teaching art in real situations where space is tight, transitions are quick and prep time is limited. It includes 20 ready to teach art lessons, 10 creative ARTivities, organization tools, assessment pages and reflection pieces to help you build a system that works.

It is for Art On A Cart teachers, elementary and middle school art teachers, classroom teachers teaching art, substitute teachers and homeschool families who want low prep art lessons that still have students making quality artwork.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “My students did two Lessons from this set, the Turtle and the Name art. Both were engaging and easy for students to complete. The end results looked pretty neat! Next fall, I am planning to try the Pumpkins.” TM B.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• 20 complete art lessons, each with an artwork example, 2 page lesson plan, teacher visual and text step-by-step instructions, student visual step-by-step instructions and a student work page. Sample lessons include Scrap Paper Sculpture, Value Monochromatic Landscape, Identity Paper Weaving, Yayoi Kusama Inspired Pumpkin, Frida Kahlo Tropical Still Life, Abstract Shape Collage and Creepy Carrot Texture Drawing.
• 10 creative ARTivities: Art Choice Board, Pattern Mosaic, Symmetry Drawing, Grid Drawing Practice, Zen Doodle Art, Roll and Draw Game, Pick a Prompt Creative Writing and Drawing, Directed Drawing Page, Build a Landscape Activity and Build an Artwork Prompt Page
• Organization tools: Art On A Cart binder cover, dividers for lessons, ARTivities and assessments, teaching tips for Art On A Cart and resource organization ideas
• Assessment and reflection tools: rubric, artist statement template, peer feedback form, student self evaluation and art reflection journal pages

HOW TO USE IT

Choose the lessons that fit your schedule and materials, then print and prep your binder with the tabs. Photocopy student pages ahead of time, use the visual guides to teach each lesson, and leave a lesson for a substitute when you need to. Rotate through the lessons and ARTivities over the year to keep your art program fresh and organized.

The mix of full lessons, ARTivities, planning tools and assessment pages means you are not teaching the same type of project over and over. It also suits sub plans, visual art centers, fast finisher activities, homeschool art and binder-based art organization.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Art On A Cart teachers, art teachers, classroom teachers, substitute teachers and homeschool educators.

How long does it take to prep?

It depends on how much of the bundle you print at once. Once it is printed and organized, it is designed to be easy to pull from again and again.

Can I use this if I do not have traditional art supplies?

Yes. Many of the lessons can be adapted to the materials you have available.

Is this helpful for homeschool families too?

Yes. The visual supports, lesson plans, student pages and variety of activities work well for homeschool visual art.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS (8)

★★ “This is not a complete curriculum. I didn't find this resource easy to use or adapt to my situation.” Mary B.

★★★★ “This is exactly what I was looking for! It meets all my expectations.” Letters w.

★★★★ “Thank you so much for this resource for art on a cart!” Sara's P.

★★★★ “My students loved these lessons and so did I! I recommend this if you're on a cart!” Jennifer J.

★★★ “This art on a cart pack is/was a life saver. Very helpfull and offers alt art supplies for those of us who have no access to a room.” amanda H.

★★★★ “This was a great resource with very little prep involved. It was very easy to implement as well as leave plans in my absence. Thank you!” Samantha P.

★★★★ “Very helpful while I was on a cart.” jesse B.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine (October 2025). She creates art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, homeschool families and art educators. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this in your classroom or homeschool, use it in creative and inspiring ways with your students, and buy additional licenses for schoolwide use.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, share it with other educators or districts (each teacher must purchase their own license), or upload, sell or distribute this product elsewhere.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic