POWERFUL POSTERS – Modern Calligraphy, Emphasis

Students will be able to:

• identify 5 characteristics of effective posters;
• create an environmental poster based on their research using crayon resist technique and modern calligraphy;
• demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity; 
• support their ideas with evidence found in the works.

Have students:

• use the Designing a Brochure lesson plan available on this website to create a brochure that provides information about their environmental issue;
• work in small groups to video an infomercial about their environmental issue;
• share their videos and brochures with other classes.

1. Prior to this lesson have students learn modern calligraphy using the Modern Calligraphy lesson plan available on this website.
2. Gather, and display posters from the Internet, for example,
   Peace
   Wellbee
3. Download and display the Emphasis, Contrast and Balance posters available on this website.
4. Gather, and make available, books about lettering, for example, Little Book of Lettering, by Emily Gregory; Adventures in Lettering: 40 exercises to improve your lettering skills, by Dawn Nicole Warnaar; Creative Lettering: Techniques & Tips from Top Artists, by Jenny Doh; Doodle Art and Lettering with Joanne Sharpe: Inspiration and Techniques for Personal Expression, by Joanne Sharpe; and Hand-Lettering (An Interactive Guide to the Art of Drawing Letters), by Megan Wells.
5. Provide time for students to research an environmental issue of their choice.

1. View and discuss several posters, for example, Peace and Wellbee, pointing out what makes them effective.
2. List the characteristics on a chart paper, for example: ​
   - simple and clear composition makes it easy to see important information
   - shows all required information
   - has a dominant element, such as a symbol, or character that immediately catches your eye
   - uses size, contrasting colour or values to emphasizes the most important part of the message 
   - images or symbols are related to the message
   - colours are strong so they attract attention from a distance
3. View and discuss a variety of lettering styles, including modern calligraphy alphabets.
4. Introduce the challenge.

1. Place students into small groups. 
2. Ask them to: 
   - share their work and discuss the things that are especially effective and why
   - analyse the designs focusing on the characteristics of effective posters.
   - talk about what they found satisfying about doing this project
   - talk about how they might use what they learned in a different way
3. Share ideas with the whole class. 
4. Ask students to tell how they felt about doing this project.

1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting
2. Observe students as they discuss the posters – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads – Poster_tracking.pdf)
4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads – Poster_self-assessment.pdf)