Propaganda Posters

Students will discuss the purpose of propaganda posters in a “think-pair-share,” and identify posters they have seen both inside and outside of school. Students will view and respond to images from Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center’s exhibition Art of the American Soldier. 

Weblink address (URL): 
Propaganda Posters

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Students will:

  • Differentiate between “advertisements” and “propaganda” relative to poster design in history.
  • Understand the rights of citizens in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
  • Examine the work contained in the Art of the American Soldier exhibition at the National Constitution Center, and recognize its personal portrayal of war.
  • Identify a modern-day (social, political, personal, etc.)
  • issue/theme to use as inspiration for the poster.
  • Create an appropriate composition that illustrates the use of propaganda.
  • Express their vision with proper use of mixed media (pencils, rulers, colored pencils, charcoal, watercolor paint & markers).
  • Provide self-reflection & critical response to others through the use of a “blog.” 

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying

References

Contributors: 
Dana Malone
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation