Students will work with partners to create posters that display specific attributes of character. Their posters will help the school students, teachers, leaders, and family members know what displaying the specific attributes of character looks like--how do we make good character visible?
As a grade five team, we've reviewed the character traits in a number of ways. So now it's a chance to display that learning on giant posters, posters that will spread the knowledge. To begin the project, I'll give a short "poster making" lesson which includes the following points:
Use a Number of Smaller Pieces of Paper For Each Part of the Poster
Rather than writing right on the big paper, write on separate, smaller pieces of paper. Add your notes there. That way you don't waste a big piece of paper, and instead can just use another piece of smaller paper. And, when you work with a number of smaller papers, it's easier to arrange the papers later on the big piece in a way that looks good.
Draft Your Poster Idea on a Small Piece of Paper
Make a draft of your poster first. Talk with your partner and decide what kinds of words and images you will use, and where those words and images will be placed.
Write in Pencil First
To save paper, write in pencil first. Then check over the spelling and grammar with a teacher before going over the words with pens.
Use Clear Print and Use Print Size and Fonts Strategically
Use good print that's easy to read. If that's difficult, you can type your headings and print them. Don't use lots and lots of different fonts, but it's okay to use a few different fonts. Also, the most important words should be written with larger type and the less important words with smaller size.
Start with a Question
Beginning your poster with a question, draws the reader's interest and curiosity. For example, you may write "What is Tolerance and Why is Tolerance Important? We'll talk about the fact that when writing a headline, you capitalize the first and last words as well as all important words or all the words.
Add Thought Provoking, Wonderful Images
Make sure that your images are big and inviting. Use pictures that illustrate the main points of your poster, images that will help students understand what's most important about the character attribute your are presenting.
Use a List or Bullet Points of the Most Important Words
Use few, but valuable words, in a list or with bullet points to help students understand the answer to the question you pose. Your words, in this case, should help students to identify the most important actions when it comes to displaying the attribute of good character you are displaying and teaching about.
Paste Down All Paper and Pictures Well
Make sure you use lots of paste to paste down the information well.
Hang Up Your Poster Where Students Will Be Able to Read and Study It
Think about the average height of students, and where they're likely to be standing and looking at the walls. Then hang your posters up in that area? Do you think it's best if we make a display of all of these posters together or should we hang the around the school?
Posters that demonstrate important learning can then become posters that teach the whole school what we've learned. Further, I'll take a photo of each poster so we can share a digital display as well so family members and others in our student PLN can share in the wonderful learning and effort.
Do you have other ideas with regard to making great posters? If so, let us know, and I'll add those ideas to this post.
