Propaganda

Part One

Look at the mystery document very carefully. What you can see?

You might like to discuss your ideas with your helper, or print out the document to circle details as you spot them.

Here are a few questions to think about:

• What is the layout of this document?
• What images can you see?
• What does the text say?
• What type of document is it?

Part Two

You’ve worked like a history detective to investigate this poster and collect lots of evidence.

Now, consider these questions to take your thinking further:

• Who does the figure in the dustbin represent?
• What does the text mean?
• When do you think this poster was made?
• Who do you think produced this poster?
• Why was it made?

Part Three

How does this poster work as a piece of propaganda?

Use all of the evidence you’ve gathered to make suggestions about what this poster is trying to convince people to do, and why this would have been important during the war.

See if you can summarise your ideas in a sentence or two to work out the message of the poster.

Part Four

Did you think this poster was effective?

Many more propaganda posters were designed during the war to encourage people to support the war effort, and each poster had its own important message. Practise your skills and find out more about propaganda with the follow-up activities on this webpage.

Additional documents to investigate:

Look at each poster in turn, and think about these questions:

• What can you see in this poster? Jot down as many details as you can spot.
• What is the message of this poster? What is it trying to convince people to do?
• Who was its intended audience? Use details from the poster to support your ideas here.
• What techniques does the artist use to get the poster’s message across?
• Do you think this poster is effective? Why?

Follow-up activities

Design your own propaganda poster

Propaganda can be an effective way of encouraging people to do something important. Create your own poster to convince your parents, carers or someone in your family to do something that’s important to you!

You could design a poster to encourage people to volunteer for the NHS, recycle plastic, or support a cause that matters to you.

Don’t forget to think about your audience and use a range of techniques to make your poster convincing. Colourful images, catchy text, and even humour can all help to get your message across!