Stages of Life Poster

Question

Required materials:

Large piece of paper or poster board
Markers, pencils, and other drawing/writing implements
Drawing paper or magazines to cut up
Glue or tape
Scissors
Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and make a poster to show the changes throughout the life span. You will make up a person to trace throughout Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development. Name your character and for each of life’s eight stages of development draw a picture of the character or cut out a photo from a magazine to represent that life stage. If you are drawing your character at different ages, do so on another piece of paper so you can cut out each one to glue to your large poster paper.

Decide how you want to design your poster—where will each stage of life be placed? Do you want a circle of life? A line? A pathway? Use your creativity to have fun planning the design. Label each stage of life and write three developmental characteristics about the stage; be sure to leave room around each picture for this material as you are planning it out.

Take plenty of clear photographs of your poster to submit for grading.

Answer 1

Creating a "Stages of Life" poster based on Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development is a fantastic project! Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

Step 1: Choose Your Character

• Name Your Character: Come up with a unique name for your character. This could be anything you like; just make it relatable.
• Character Traits: Think about the basic personality traits of your character that might evolve through life. Is she adventurous? Introverted? Artistic?

Step 2: Understanding Erikson’s Stages

Briefly review Erikson’s eight stages of psychosocial development:

1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy: 0-1 year)
2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood: 1-3 years)
3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age: 3-6 years)
4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age: 6-12 years)
5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence: 12-18 years)
6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood: 18-40 years)
7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood: 40-65 years)
8. Integrity vs. Despair (Late Adulthood: 65 years and onward)

Step 3: Design Your Poster

• Layout: Decide on a layout (circle, pathway, or timeline). A linear progression may symbolize growth, while a circular design can represent the continuity of life.
• Sections: Create designated sections for each of the eight stages. Make sure each section has enough space for images and text.

Step 4: Create Images for Each Stage

• Drawings or Magazine Cutouts: For each stage, either draw an image of your character at that age or find a representative picture in magazines that depict the characteristics of that life stage.
• Label Each Stage: Write the name of each stage clearly and place it above or beside the corresponding image.

Step 5: Write Developmental Characteristics

For each life stage, write down three developmental characteristics:

• Trust vs. Mistrust: Examples could include developing a sense of security, reliance on caregivers, or learning to trust others.
• Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt: Focus on independence, developing personal skills, or learning self-control.

Continue this process for each stage up to the final one. Make sure to summarize key aspects clearly.

Step 6: Assemble Your Poster

• Glue or Tape: Secure your images and text to the poster board.
• Markers and Color: Use markers to add color, decorative borders, or highlight important parts of your poster.

Step 7: Final Touches

• Review: Check for any typos or missing information. Ensure everything is clearly labeled and visually appealing.
• Take Photographs: Once you're happy with your poster, take clear, well-lit photos from different angles. Include close-ups of each stage if possible.

Step 8: Submit Your Work

• Ensure you follow any specific submission guidelines provided by your instructor.

By following these steps, you’ll have a visually engaging and informative poster that illustrates the stages of life according to Erik Erikson’s theory. Enjoy the process and let your creativity shine!