Movie posters are a fun way for students to boil down the most important aspects of a novel. After reading Where the Red Fern Grows, students will 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.
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 the book Where the Red Fern Grows .
Student Instructions:
Encourage students to exchange movie posters with a partner or small group. Structured peer feedback helps students reflect on their creative choices and gain new perspectives.
Ask students to identify one thing they really liked about their peer's poster, such as the use of color, tagline, or depiction of a character. This builds confidence and sets a positive tone for feedback.
Invite students to share one specific suggestion for making the poster even stronger, like adding a detail from the story or clarifying the setting. Constructive advice helps students revise with purpose.
Demonstrate how to phrase suggestions kindly, such as “I wonder if…” or “Have you considered…?” Respectful language encourages open discussion and a growth mindset.
Allow students a few minutes to reflect on the feedback they received and make changes to their posters. Reflection supports deeper learning and creative confidence.
A Where the Red Fern Grows movie poster assignment asks students to design a creative poster that highlights key elements of the novel, such as its setting, characters, themes, and memorable scenes. This activity helps students summarize the story visually and encourages deeper understanding.
To help students create a strong movie poster, encourage them to choose a meaningful scene or theme, include the book’s title and author, add a catchy tagline, and write a short critic’s review. Remind them to focus on the novel’s main characters and setting, and to be creative with their design choices.
A movie poster for Where the Red Fern Grows should feature the title and author, key characters, a significant scene or theme, a catchy tagline, and a brief critic’s review explaining why the story is compelling.
Creating a movie poster helps middle school students think critically about the novel, practice summarizing important details, and express their understanding visually. It also develops skills in analysis, creativity, and presentation.
Yes, there are movie poster templates available that can guide students in arranging elements like images, titles, and taglines. These resources make the assignment more accessible and help students focus on content and creativity.