1984 by George Orwell: Creative Propaganda Project for Book 1 of 1984

This is a fun and engaging project for George Orwell’s 1984. Complete this creative project after reading to at least BOOK 1, CHAPTER 6. This project is for YOU if you are looking to boost engagement and excitement for the book. My students enjoy this project because it breaks up the reading with something fun and student-driven. This purchase includes a slideshow that engages students in learning about and discussing propaganda techniques from our world and the world of Orwell’s 1984.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Teaching slideshow with 16 engaging slides to support you with facilitating this project.
• Digital or printable assignment document with a planning page to guide students through the project.
• Student samples to use as reference and share with your students.
• Grading rubric so that you have the option to use this project as an assessment.

TEACHER SLIDESHOW:

The slideshow teaches students about propaganda techniques: Students receive an overview of the function and purpose of propaganda and learn about how propaganda is used in both our world today and the world of Oceania. Once students have a strong understanding of how propaganda has been used to control society, students are then guided to review the Instructions and Planning Document.

INSTRUCTIONS AND PLANING DOCUMENT:

This Google Document can be printed out and completed by hand or it can be completed digitally. Within this document, students are provided four options that they must choose from to create a piece of propaganda that we would expect to find in Orwell’s novel. Within the planning doc. students are asked to craft their own propaganda message for Oceania, identify their target audience, and add textual evidence from 1984 to support their claims. Once students have completed their planning doc., students then choose the platform they wish to create their project on. Students are given the option to create digitally or by hand. If students choose the digital option, they are provided with digital platforms and instructions to support them with their digital propaganda poster. If your students do not have access to a computer or prefer to work by hand, they can create their propaganda by hand using markers, colored pencils, paint, collage, etc. Your students will surprise you with their creativity!⭐

DIGITAL OR PRINTABLE OPTIONS:

This activity was created on Google Docs. and Google Slides. The planning document can be completed digitally or as a printout. The Propaganda Poster can also be created digitally or by hand depending on your classroom needs and student preferences.

IN MY CLASSROOM:

My students always enjoy completing this 1984 Creative Project and their projects always turn out so wonderful, leaving me inspired by them! The last time I taught this activity, I was so impressed not only by the variety of projects I received but by the amount of effort each student put into their piece and the pride they felt for their finished project. In the past, my students have created painted canvases, a painted t-shirt, incredible poster boards, 3-D posters, and many amazing digital posters as well.

GALLERY WALK:

Students love showcasing their final products during a gallery walk so that they can share their work and observe their peers’ digital and handmade projects. If you plan to have a galley walk to celebrate your student’s hard work, then check out this Gallery Walk Feedback Form. This feedback form provides students the opportunity to give quality feedback to 5 of their peers. It also holds students accountable during the gallery walk, keeping socializing to a minimum. 😉

I LOVE the challenge of making 1984 activities FUN and HIGHLY ENGAGING for our students. Here are more 1984 projects and activities to keep your students invested in Orwell’s novel:

➡️This 1984 Unit Plan Bundle will keep your students engaged for the next 5 weeks!

➡️This Close Reading & Paragraph Writing (Dating in North Korea) explores the dating practices in North Korea and students make connections to the “relationships” in Orwell’s 1984. 

➡️This Close Reading & Paragraph Writing (Stockholm Syndrome) activity is fascinating to students as they explore Stockholm Syndrome and compare the psychology of the syndrome to the torture scenes in 1984. A little morbid, but I promise your students will be engaged. 🙂

➡️This Close Reading & Literary Analysis Paragraph Writing provides your students with structured paragraph writing practice to strengthen their argumentative skills.

➡️For this 1984 Activity: China’s Social Credit System, students analyze an eerie example of Big Brother in real life: Students learn about China’s Social Credit System which has been implemented by the Chinese government in cities all over China. Students closely examine engaging media clips about the credit system, then complete three writing lessons in which they make connections to 1984.