Movie posters are a fun way for students to boil down the most important aspects of a novel. After reading a book or play, students can create a movie poster that showcases the setting, characters and a chosen scene or overarching themes of the story. Students can include the title and author of the book, a catchy tagline, and a "critic's review" informing the audience why they should go to see the movie and briefly describing the compelling story. This example showcases the popular middle grade novel, The Stars Beneath Our Feet, but any story could be used!
To make this a class assignment, consider giving each student a different chapter or scene to focus on. When students complete their posters, they can be printed out and hung in the classroom. Students should be prepared to present on the choices they made during the creation process.
For additional templates to add to this assignment, check out our movie poster templates!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a movie poster for your book that shows your understanding of the most important aspects of a novel.
Student Instructions:
Encourage students to share and discuss their posters in a gallery walk format to boost engagement and peer learning. A gallery walk allows students to showcase their creativity, gain feedback, and appreciate diverse interpretations of the text.
Place completed posters on walls or tables so students can move freely and view each one. Ensure there is enough space between posters to prevent crowding and allow everyone a clear view.
Give each student sticky notes or a simple feedback sheet to jot down positive comments, questions, or constructive suggestions about their peers’ work. This fosters a supportive classroom environment and encourages thoughtful reflection.
Demonstrate how to offer specific, encouraging, and respectful feedback before the walk begins. Set clear expectations so students feel safe sharing their ideas and creativity.
Organize students into small groups and have them rotate through the gallery, spending a few minutes at each poster. This ensures all posters receive attention and keeps the activity organized.
Lead a short discussion where students share what they noticed, learned, or were inspired by during the walk. This reinforces key themes and celebrates student effort.
A movie poster project is a creative assignment where students design a poster for a novel or play they’ve read, highlighting key elements like setting, characters, themes, and a main scene. It encourages students to show their understanding through art and summary skills.
To create a book-themed movie poster, students identify important scenes or themes, select main characters and settings, and artfully arrange them on a poster. They should include the title, author, tagline, and a brief critic’s review to capture the essence of the story.
A student-made movie poster should include the book’s title and author, main characters, setting, a significant scene or theme, a catchy tagline, and a short critic’s review explaining what makes the story compelling.
Movie poster projects help middle school students analyze literature by summarizing essential story elements, fostering creativity, and encouraging them to present and justify their choices, deepening their understanding of the novel.
Yes, movie poster templates are available to help students structure their designs and focus on essential elements like scenes, characters, and taglines, making the assignment more accessible and visually appealing.