Seaside Holidays activity 1: design a poster for Fashionable Folkestone

Seaside Holidays Resources Folkestone poster

Overview

Create a poster for Fashionable Folkestone highlighting in a striking image and strapline why tourists should visit. Children explore the Learn with Objects Seaside Holidays topic to see examples of holiday posters and to gather ideas for their own design.

Learning objectives - Curriculum links

Introduction

As a class, look at the vintage advertising poster for Folkestone in Learn with Objects Seaside holidays 1: advertisements (see image above).

Think about the following questions.

What does the poster show?
Do you recognise any landmarks?
How many activities can you see happening?
What is the purpose of the poster?
When do you think it dates from? Why?
What media has the artist used?
How would you describe the colours?
Would this poster encourage you to visit Folkestone? Why?
Is there a lot of text about all the attractions? Why not?

Children are then set the challenge of researching other seaside poster designs for Folkestone and Hythe (or other resorts of your choice). These can also be discussed as a whole class.

Google ‘Folkestone holiday poster’ and click images: this will bring up lots of different designs.

Next the children are asked to create their own poster to advertise Fashionable Folkestone and to include one or more of the resort’s many attractions.

Creative Activity

Create a poster

Design and make a poster advertising Folkestone as a fashionable seaside resort. Pupils should think which holiday audience they want to appeal to.

For example, children and teenagers will be attracted by the beach and entertainments such as the rollercoaster or fairground rides.
Older, wealthier clientele may be attracted by the posh hotels, theatre performances at the Leas Cliff Hall, brass band concerts and promenading on The Leas.

The children should sketch out their layout in pencil first on a separate piece of paper, perhaps experimenting with three or four different designs.

Text should be kept to a minimum with an image selling the concept that Folkestone is the place to be. Titles should be short and memorable.

Space may be left right at the bottom for information on who to contact for further information, as in the poster design in Seaside holidays 1: advertisements.

Use thick, high quality paper for the posters. Use at least A3 size. Why not explore and experiment with a new medium like pastel or gouache? Both of which have a bright colour palette suitable for poster design.

Learn with Objects links

Use Learn with Objects Seaside holidays 1: advertisements to look at a vintage advertising poster of Folkestone and Seaside holidays 1-18 for information and image ideas for your own design.