Endangered Species Poster

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will create a hand-drawn Endangered Species Poster featuring an animal that is currently at risk of extinction. Building on the techniques learned in Drawing Animals on Colored Paper, students will combine realistic animal illustration, color theory, and graphic design to communicate information visually.

Students will choose an endangered animal they care about, research it, take notes, and design a poster that includes:

• A large, detailed animal drawing on colored paper

• A hand-designed title

• Informational text explaining why the animal is endangered

This project teaches students that art can be both expressive and informative, and that visual design can be used to raise awareness and inspire care for the natural world. By drawing an endangered animal and sharing its story, you are helping others notice, care, and remember. When art and knowledge come together, awareness begins—and awareness can lead to change.

Learning Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Draw an endangered animal using colored paper, shadows, and highlights

• Understand how color, contrast, and composition affect mood and meaning

• Design a clear, balanced layout using hand-drawn typography and text boxes

Research & Planning

Choose an Animal You Want to Help

Students will select one endangered animal they care about.

Using books, teacher-approved websites, or classroom resources, students will make short notes about:

• The animal’s name

• Where it lives

• Why it is endangered

• One interesting fact

These notes will later be turned into handwritten text on the poster.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Choose Paper Color

Select a colored paper that fits your animal’s mood or habitat.

• Blue or teal for ocean animals

• Green for forest animals

• Gray or brown for land animals

The background color should support the emotion of the piece.

2. Light Sketch

Lightly sketch your animal using pencil.

• Focus on proportion, posture, and personality

• Make the animal large and central

3. Outline & Build Form

Carefully define the animal’s shape.

• Use darker tones for shadows

• Use lighter tones and white for highlights

• Think about where the light is coming from

4. Add Color, Shadows & Highlights

Use:

• Cool colors for shadows

• Warm or light colors for highlights

This creates depth and makes the animal feel alive.

5. Graphic Design: Title & Layout

Now design your poster layout by hand:

• Create a clear title (example: African Forest Elephant)

• Design borders, text boxes, or frames

• Arrange information neatly around the animal

Think about:

• Balance

• Spacing

• Readability

6. Add Informational Text

Using your research notes, neatly write short paragraphs or bullet points explaining:

• Why the animal is endangered

• What threatens it

• Why it matters

Text should be clear, legible, and thoughtfully placed.

7. Final Touches

• Add final highlights

• Clean up edges

• Check spelling and layout

• Make sure the animal remains the main focus