English · Year 2

Active learning ideas

Creating Persuasive Posters

Active learning builds persuasive poster skills because young students learn best when they create, test, and revise in real time. Hands-on activities let them see how words and images work together to influence others, turning abstract concepts into concrete understanding.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9E2LY06
• AC9E2LA08

• 20–35 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 25 min · Pairs

Pairs: Slogan Matching Game

Pairs match school rules or events to persuasive slogans from a card set. They choose one slogan, draw a quick sketch, and explain why it persuades. Share with another pair for thumbs-up feedback.

What message do you want your poster to share?

Facilitation Tip

During the Slogan Matching Game, circulate with a timer to keep pairs on task and ensure every student contributes an idea.

What to look for

Students display their poster drafts. Partners use a simple checklist: 'Is the message clear?', 'Are the colors bright?', 'Are there pictures that help?', 'Would you be convinced?'. Partners provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 35 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Poster Planning Boards

Groups divide a large sheet into sections for message, colors, images, and slogan. They brainstorm and assign roles, then draft elements. Present plans to class for quick votes on strongest ideas.

How can choosing bright colours and pictures make your poster more eye-catching?

Facilitation Tip

While students work on Poster Planning Boards, ask guiding questions like ‘Who needs to see this message and why?’ to deepen their focus.

What to look for

Students write the name of their poster's audience and one reason why their chosen colors or images will persuade them. They also write one sentence about the main message they want their audience to remember.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 30 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Gallery Walk Critique

Display draft posters around room. Students walk in pairs, leaving sticky notes with one strength and one suggestion per poster. Creators read notes and revise one element before finalizing.

Can you design a poster that uses words and images to persuade your classmates?

Facilitation Tip

For the Gallery Walk Critique, place a simple voting station at each poster so classmates can leave quick feedback without overwhelming the creators.

What to look for

Teacher circulates during poster creation, asking students: 'Who are you trying to persuade with this poster?' and 'What is the most important word or picture you are using to convince them?'

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 04

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 20 min · Individual

Individual: Digital Poster Polish

Students use simple tablet apps to add final colors and images to hand-drawn scans. They record a 10-second voiceover explaining their persuasion strategy. Share one highlight with teacher.

What message do you want your poster to share?

Facilitation Tip

During Digital Poster Polish, model one revision technique on the board before students begin independent editing.

What to look for

Students display their poster drafts. Partners use a simple checklist: 'Is the message clear?', 'Are the colors bright?', 'Are there pictures that help?', 'Would you be convinced?'. Partners provide one specific suggestion for improvement.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Start with mentor texts—show students well-designed posters and ask them to identify how words, colors, and images work together. Avoid teaching persuasion as tricks; instead, frame it as clear communication for a specific audience. Research shows that when students explain their choices aloud, their designs improve more than when they work silently.

Students will craft posters with a clear message, purposeful visuals, and targeted slogans. They will explain who they are persuading and why their design choices matter. Assessment shows growth from planning through final revisions.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During the Gallery Walk Critique, watch for students who assume pictures alone persuade the audience.

  Have critics focus on the checklist item ‘Does the poster need more words to explain?’ for images that confuse without text. Use a sticky-note station where peers write missing words directly on confusing posters during the walk.

• During Poster Planning Boards, expect students to believe any bright color will work for every topic.

  Provide a color-mood chart at each planning station. When students choose colors, ask them to justify their choice using the chart and swap hues if peers vote the color doesn’t match the message.

• During Digital Poster Polish, assume larger fonts or more clipart automatically make a poster more persuasive.

  Before printing, hold a class vote using a simple rubric: ‘Is the message clear?’ and ‘Does the design fit the audience?’ Discuss why simple, targeted designs often win over flashy ones.

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Methods used in this brief

• Outdoor Investigation Session