Wanted Poster

What You Need:        

• Poster paper
• Paper
• Pencil, pen, markers, crayons, colored pencils
• Books or internet access
• Example of a “Most Wanted” poster from a book or website

What You Do:

1. Show your child an example of a "wanted" poster that is used to help identify and capture outlaws, such as those made in the old west. 
2. Have your child brainstorm a list of the villains, or “bad guys” in the book she’s reading. If she’s in between books, have her think of a famous one from fairy tales, such as the Big Bad Wolf, the Queen from Snow White, the Evil Stepmother from Cinderella, or the Witch in Hansel and Gretel. Have her write the list of villains on a piece of paper.
3. For each villain, she should write some information that could be useful on a wanted poster such as a physical description, what their crimes have been, what weapons the villain uses (a poison apple, huffing and puffing, an endless list of chores), any aliases or nicknames, and a reward for capture. Your child might think of additional information to go on the poster – let her be creative!
4. When the list is finished, the child can work on the poster by drawing a picture of each villain, writing the villain’s name, and then copying all the other information that was collected next to the villain’s picture.
5. Have your child use markers, crayons and colored pencils to color the poster. 
6. If more than one child completes the activity, they can compare their posters. What do the villains have in common? How are they different?
7. This activity gives your child practice with writing and with character and plot analysis. Let her hang up the finished poster to proudly display it!