"Make the Case"--Poster Activity

Global Campaign for Education

NEA International Relations

Objective: Students will create a persuasive poster focusing on the importance of universal basic education using facts and information about education for all. The posters will be delivered or sent to members of Congress with a message about the importance of universal primary education.

• Using paper, poster-board, or other appropriate materials, have students create a poster that includes artwork, stories, graphs and figures, or anything else that will help "make the case" for education for all children!
   
• Decide what the poster will represent. Choose one message and theme or divide it into different sections that all relate to "making the case" for education.
   
• This can be a great opportunity to have a class debate or discussion about the specific messages that will be included in the poster:
   
• Talk about how many children around the world don't go to school. Who are they? Where do they live? Why don't they go to school?
   
• Explain why some kids can't go to school because of school fees and other costs, gender discrimination, safety concerns, and other reasons.
   
• Show why education is important to fighting poverty and HIV/AIDS, stopping child labor, empowering girls, and building democratic societies.
   
• Have a written message on the posters that show they are a part of the "Global Campaign for Education Send My Friend to School Week." Use artwork or photographs; stories or poems; policy messages; facts; figures and graphs; or any combination emphasizing that to "make the case" to U.S. leaders that every child in every country should have a free, basic education.
   
• Be creative and have fun!
   
• Write the author/artist's name and school on the back.
   
• Display the posters in school.
   
• Take or send the posters to your district congressional offices accompanied with the following message:

   

Dear Senator _____: or Dear Representative _____:

Over 100 million school-age children in the world have never set foot in a classroom. The United States needs to contribute its fair share, with other industrialized nations, to realize this basic human right to education. It is our responsibility. Please show your commitment in Congress for basic education by allocating $650 million for next year's budget, FY-07, of which $500 million can be taken from the Development Assistance Account.

Thank you. The world's children will benefit from your actions.

To locate the district offices of your member of Congress and senators, go to: www.senate.gov/ and www.house.gov/.

Tell us about your posters and activities! oir@nea.org

Related Resources

» Global Campaign for Education, "Make the Case"--Host a Hearing Activity
» Global Campaign for Education, "Make the Case"--Cutout "Friend" Activity