Design for Change - poster competition

Suitable for all schools and nurseries.

Overview

Education phase

Early years Key stage 2 Key stage 3 Key stage 4 Key stage 5 Key stage 1

Category of activity

Travel

Types of activity

Better Driving

How it helps

Uses creativity to raise awareness of travel issues
Opportunity for Explorers Ambassadors involvement
Beautifully illustrated lesson plan on design

Useful Links

Launch a zig-zag enforcement campaign Launch a Park and Stride campaign TfL Explorers Ambassadors TfL Pioneers Challenge

Useful Resources

Illustrated Road Safety Poster Design Lesson Plan Guide to running a poster competition

About the activity

Launch a poster competition to tackle a travel issue affecting your school or nursery.

Ask pupils to think about what it’s like when they are dropped off and picked up at school, what the potential dangers are and how it could be safer. Then ask them to transform their ideas into a poster design.

Display the winning poster (or banner, for maximum visibility!) outside the school to encourage parents/carers to park appropriately when dropping off or collecting their children. Use the resources to run a lesson on great poster design, created by the London Transport Museum, and to organise a poster competiion

You could combine this activity with the launch of a Park and stride or Zig-zag line enforcement campaign.

How to evidence your activity

Record the feedback from your pupils and parent/carers
Upload evidence to tell your story. Explain the activity, add photos of the competition materials you produced (including a picture of the winning poster) and include pupils’ and parent/carer feedback

Activity steps

Step 1

Assess the situation. How many parents/carers park inappropriately outside the school each morning?

Step 2

Plan. Speak to your head teacher about your idea to improve parking outside the school and let your working group decide when and how to run the competition

Step 3

Promotion. Ask the working group to announce the competition in assembly and explain what pupils need to do

Step 4

Get poster-making! Pupils can make their posters in class or at home – encourage them to be as creative as possible and make their parking message clear

Step 5

Announce the winner. Celebrate the winning poster artist - present them with a certificate or prize in assembly and include an article in your school newsletter or on the website letting parents/carers know to watch out for the poster

Step 6

Display the posters. Display the artwork outside the school where parents/carers can see them

Step 7

Check for success. Redo your survey to find out whether the number of parents/carers parking inappropriately has improved since the posters or banner

Step 8

Tell your story. Upload your evidence to "my activities"