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.

Do a canvas virtual version

Answer 1

Creating a virtual version of the "Stages of Life Poster" can be an engaging way to present Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development. Below are the steps and suggestions for designing a digital version using a platform like Canva, which allows for easy creation and customization:

Steps to Create Your Virtual Stages of Life Poster

1. Access Canva:

   • Go to the Canva website (www.canva.com) and log in to your account or sign up for a free one.

2. Choose a Template:

   • Search for "poster" in the template search bar. You can choose a layout that fits your vision—whether it's a vertical poster, infographic, or something more artistic.

3. Create Your Character:

   • Think of a name and background for your character. You can either draw your character using Canva's elements or upload images from drawing apps (like Procreate) or find images in free stock photo websites if you prefer using a real person.

4. Design the Layout:

   • Decide the layout for your poster. It could be a linear timeline, circular design, or a path.
   • Use lines or arrows to visually connect each of Erikson's stages from infancy to late adulthood.

5. Add Each Stage of Life:

   • Create a section for each of Erikson’s eight stages:
     1. Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)
     2. Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (Early Childhood)
     3. Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Age)
     4. Industry vs. Inferiority (School Age)
     5. Identity vs. Role Confusion (Adolescence)
     6. Intimacy vs. Isolation (Young Adulthood)
     7. Generativity vs. Stagnation (Middle Adulthood)
     8. Integrity vs. Despair (Maturity)
   • For each stage, add either a drawing, icon, or image that represents your character at that age.

6. Label Each Stage:

   • Write the name of the stage prominently. Consider using different fonts or colors to distinguish each stage.
   • Beside or below each image or illustration, list three developmental characteristics specific to that stage. You can use text boxes for clarity.

7. Finalizing the Design:

   • Pay attention to the color scheme and fonts to ensure they are visually pleasing and easy to read.
   • Leave ample space between sections to avoid a cluttered look.
   • Consider adding background images or colors that align with the theme of your poster.

8. Review and Edit:

   • Before finishing, check for any typos and make sure all information is clear.
   • Adjust the placement of elements for balance and aesthetic appeal.

9. Download and Photograph:

   • Once satisfied, download your finished poster. Canva allows you to download it in multiple formats (JPEG, PNG, PDF, etc.).
   • If required for grading, take clear screenshots of sections or use a snipping tool to capture the overall design.

10. Submission:

• Follow your submission guidelines to upload your virtual poster wherever necessary (e.g., classroom portal, email, etc.).

Tips:

• Explore Canva’s library of free images, icons, and illustrations to enhance your design.
• Use contrasting colors to highlight different stages and developmental characteristics.
• Consider using charts or graphical elements to demonstrate developmental progression.

Enjoy creating your virtual poster, and remember to have fun with the design process!