Educator Resources

Analyze a Poster

Download the illustrated PDF version. (PDF)

Meet the poster.

Quickly scan the poster. What do you notice first?

Observe its parts.

WORDS:
- Does it have a message printed on it?
- Are there questions or instructions?
- Does it say who created it?
VISUALS:
- List the people, objects, places, and activities in the poster.
- What are the main colors used?
- Are there any symbols?
Does the poster try to persuade mainly through words, visuals, or both equally?
Write one sentence summarizing this poster.

Try to make sense of it.

When is this from?
What was happening at the time in history this poster was created?
Who do you think is the intended audience?
Why was it created? List evidence from the poster that tells you this.

Use it as historical evidence.

What did you find out from this poster that you might not learn anywhere else?
What other documents or historical evidence are you going to use to help you understand this event or topic?

Materials created by the National Archives and Records Administration are in the public domain.

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