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Teacher Resources

Wartime Propaganda: What Did Posters Ask People to Do?

Language, media and propaganda

A 30-minute lesson analysing how wartime propaganda posters used images and words to persuade, using well-known public-domain poster themes.

Suggested age

14–16

Duration

30 minutes

Type

Image analysis

Conflict / period

World War II

Subjects

History, Media Studies, Citizenship

Content note

Propaganda can simplify or distort. Encourage students to analyse critically, not to judge the people who lived through it. Some posters encouraged suspicion of enemy nations, discuss this with care.

Overview

A 30-minute lesson analysing how wartime propaganda posters used images and words to persuade, using well-known public-domain poster themes.

Learning objectives

Identify the persuasive techniques used in wartime propaganda posters.
Explain how a poster's message reflects the needs of the government that produced it.
Design a labelled poster concept that uses one propaganda technique.

Materials required

Printed worksheet (one per student)
Coloured pencils or markers (optional)
Access to view example poster descriptions (provided)

Historical context

During the world wars, governments produced posters to persuade people to act in certain ways: to grow food, to save fuel, to keep secrets, and to support the armed forces. Famous British examples include 'Dig for Victory' (grow your own food) and 'Keep Calm and Carry On' (stay calm, prepared but rarely displayed in the war). These posters used bold images, short slogans, and strong colours to get a message across quickly.

Reading material

Propaganda is communication designed to persuade. Wartime posters used several techniques: • Slogans — short, memorable phrases. • Direct address — words like 'You' or 'Your' that speak to the reader. • Emotion — fear, pride, duty or hope. • Simple images — one clear symbol that carries the message. • Repetition — the same message in many places. A good reader asks: Who made this? Who is it aimed at? What does it want me to do? What does it leave out?

Student worksheet (preview)

Part A — Describe Your teacher will describe two well-known wartime posters: 'Dig for Victory' (a spade and vegetables, encouraging people to grow food) and 'Keep Calm and Carry On' (a crown, bold text, encouraging calm). For each: 1. What is the main slogan? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Who do you think it is aimed at? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What does it want people to do? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part B — Analyse 4. Which technique (slogan, direct address, emotion, image) is strongest in 'Dig for Victory'? Explain why. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why might a government want a poster to make people feel calm rather than afraid? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Both posters leave something out. What might they not show about growing food or staying calm during a war? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part C — Create Design a concept for a poster about one thing people could do to help during a crisis. Draw a simple sketch or describe it in words. Label the techniques you used (slogan, emotion, image). Do not use stereotypes or target any group of people.

Discussion questions

How can a poster persuade without giving the full picture?
Why is 'direct address' ('You') powerful in a poster?
What responsibilities do governments have when they use propaganda?

Extension task

Find a modern public-information poster or advert. Identify one technique it shares with wartime propaganda.

Support prompts

For question 2, think about who would see the poster on a street or in a shop.
For question 6, imagine the poster did not leave anything out — would it still work?
For Part C, start by choosing a single clear message, then add a slogan.

Sources and credits

Imperial War Museum, 'Posters of the Second World War' — https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/posters-of-the-second-world-war
The National Archives, 'Art of the poster' — https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
BBC Bitesize, 'Propaganda and censorship' — https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Lesson plan by 10 Second War Stories. Poster descriptions are of public-domain British government posters; images should be viewed via the Imperial War Museum.