This lesson introduces students to advocacy with a hands-on poster campaign project. They will develop critical thinking, creativity and social awareness, while tackling important social justice issues. By creating persuasive visual content, students learn to express their views effectively – boosting their active citizenship and empowering them to make a positive impact in their communities.

Year level

7-8

Duration

60 minutes

Type

In class activity

Online learning

SEL Competencies

Self-awareness

Self-management

Social awareness

Relationship skills

Responsible decision-making

Learning intention

Students will learn about advocacy and develop skills to create campaigns on issues they care about. They will build their research skills, communicate ideas visually and give constructive feedback to their peers.

Key outcomes

 By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

  • define advocacy and explain how it can enhance wellbeing 

  • identify and research a social justice issue of personal interest 

  • create a poster campaign using effective visual communication. 

Materials needed

  • A4 paper/cardstock

  • Textas, pens, pencils 

  • Students’ devices

  • Whiteboard 

  • Whiteboard markers

Mapped to

Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Plan and use health practices, behaviours and resources to enhance health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (ACPPS093)

  • Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others' health and wellbeing (ACPPS078)

Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities

  • Critical and Creative Thinking: 

    • Generating ideas, possibilities and actions

    • Analysing, synthesizing, and evaluating information

  • Personal and Social Capability:

    • Self-awareness

    • Social awareness

    • Social management

  • Ethical Understanding:

    • Exploring values, rights and responsibilities

NSW PDHPE Syllabus

  • Recognises how contextual factors influence attitudes and behaviours and proposes strategies to enhance health, safety, wellbeing and participation in physical activity (PD4-6)

  • Demonstrates self-management skills to effectively manage complex situations (PD4-9)

Victorian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education

  • Plan and use health strategies and resources to enhance the health, safety and wellbeing of their communities (VCHPEP151)

  • Investigate the benefits of relationships and examine their impact on their own and others' health and wellbeing (VCHPEP149)

Show details

Activity 1

What is advocacy?

15 minutes

  1. Write the word ‘advocacy’ in the middle of the board. 

  2. Ask students what they know about advocacy. Create a mind map of student answers. 

  3. Ask students:

    • When we advocate for something we care about, how does it make us feel?

    • Why is advocacy good for our wellbeing and mental health?

Activity 2

Poster campaign

45 minutes

  1. Introduce students to various social justice issues (e.g. climate change, gender equality, mental health stigma).

  2. Ask each student to choose an issue they want to focus on.

  3. Students research their chosen issue. Encourage them to focus on key facts, statistics and potential solutions.

  4. Students create a poster campaign with at least three posters. Encourage students to use a medium such as Canva or Publisher. Theys may also like to draw. 

  5. Discuss the elements of effective visual communication: clear message, striking visuals, minimal text. Students should consider:

    • how the posters fit together

    • appropriate images 

    • including a slogan.

  6. Students work on their posters using the available art supplies or an online application.

  7. Students form pairs and present their campaigns to each other, providing peer feedback.

  8. Consider displaying posters around the classroom in a visual display.

Print

Related resources

Young woman with flag protesting in crowd

Protesting for change

Two students laughing and looking away from camera

Class debate challenge

Students sitting down on a long table

Strategies for change

Young woman writing in a notebook

Action and gratitude

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              ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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