Resource 3: Good posters

Teacher resource for planning or adapting to use with pupils

Features of good posters

  • The whole sheet of paper is used.
  • Words are in large print.
  • Often the words are not whole sentences.
  • Pictures should be simple, clear and powerful.
  • The colour of the words and pictures should attract attention.
  • The position of the words and the pictures on the sheet of paper should attract attention. (This is called the ‘layout’ of the poster.)

Steps to follow for lessons on designing and presenting posters and what pupils can learn from this activity

Tell pupils that they are going to work in groups to design an ‘anti-litter’ poster.

Begin with a whole-class discussion. What makes a good poster? What messages would be suitable for posters that encourage people to stop littering?

Give each group a large sheet of paper or card and make sure they have pencils and pens.

While the groups are working, move round the class to help where necessary and to take note of what pupils are learning.

When groups have finished, ask each group to show their poster to the class and to talk about why they designed it in a particular way.

Display the posters in your classroom or elsewhere in the school.

Pupils can demonstrate that they are learning:

  • how to work cooperatively in a small group;
  • how to design a poster;
  • new vocabulary;
  • what kinds of litter there are (by understanding information from the passage and by using their own experience);
  • what can be done to prevent littering;
  • how to talk about their posters.
  • Which kinds of learning have your pupils demonstrated?

How do you know this?

Where do they still need to improve?

How will you help them?

Resource 2: Introductory questions

Resource 4: A pie chart