Money | Standard Lesson
Students will explore how art is used to communicate ideas about money by designing a persuasive poster for a fictional class fundraiser. They will learn to make artistic choices that support a purpose, work within a simple budget, and justify design decisions. The lesson combines drawing, color, composition, and practical money concepts such as cost, value, and budgeting.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Budget | A set amount of money planned for spending. |
| Cost | How much something costs to buy or use. |
| Value | How useful or important something is compared to its cost. |
| Promote | To encourage people to buy, join, or support something. |
| Persuade | To convince someone to think or act in a certain way. |
| Composition | The way parts of an artwork are arranged. |
| Emphasis | A part of the artwork that stands out most. |
Show examples of advertisements, posters, or flyers that use art to influence people. Ask: What makes these designs effective? How do they use color, words, and pictures to get attention? Introduce the lesson goal: students will create a fundraiser poster with a budget.
Observe examples, discuss ideas with a partner, and identify how art and money connect in real life.
Review the vocabulary and model how to plan a poster. Show a simple material price list and demonstrate choosing supplies within a pretend budget. Think aloud about design choices that improve impact while staying within budget.
Take notes, ask questions, and complete a quick planning sketch showing the poster’s main message, image, and text.
Guide students as they choose a fundraiser topic, slogan, and layout. Conference with students to help them select materials that fit the budget and match the message.
Complete a planning sheet that includes title/slogan, image idea, color choices, and estimated material cost.
Circulate to support technique, pacing, and budgeting. Remind students to make the message clear, use strong contrast, and keep track of their material choices.
Create a finished poster using drawing and optional collage. Stay within the assigned budget and include persuasive visuals and text.
Invite students to display their posters. Lead a short gallery walk focused on how the artwork communicates a money-related message and how the artist used materials wisely.
View classmates’ posters and give one positive comment and one idea about what makes the poster effective.
Prompt students to reflect on one design choice that helped their poster persuade viewers. Support clean-up and collection of work.
Clean materials and share one sentence about how art can influence money decisions.
Students complete a brief reflection on how artists use design to influence spending, saving, or supporting a cause. Reinforce that good art can communicate a message, attract attention, and help people make decisions about money.
Create a mini sketch at home of an advertisement or poster that uses art to persuade people about money, such as saving, donating, or buying. Write 3 sentences explaining which design choices make it effective.