How to Design a Social Studies Presentation Board

Social studies presentation boards are an opportunity for students to learn about and do research on a specific topic and to practice communicating this information in an organized and effective manner. Presentation boards also give students a chance to exercise their design skills, but the most important aspect of any board is the actual content and research, not the graphics or materials used. Use simple techniques to create a well-balanced design that presents a social studies project with clarity and intelligence.

Create and Gather All Materials

• 1

  Determine the necessary items needed for the social studies presentation board. Create large labels for each of these items -- such as the title, bibliography, time line and major issues-- and cut them out.

• 2

  Be creative in completing the required research and writing. Consider creating an extensive time line, a spider graph outlining details of an issue or writing an important primary document in your own words. If the project investigates a specific person in history, consider writing an "interview" including questions and answers, in your words, about important events.

• 3

  Once finished researching and writing each of the documents, print them using 14-point or larger type. Find useful photos, illustrations and small objects to add visual interest and emphasis to the presentation.

Design a Simple, Effective Board

• 1

  Create the presentation's title using large, bold letters. Position the title in the center panel of the tri-fold board, either at the top or center. Underneath the title, add a description of the issue that the project addresses and a related picture.

• 2

  Divide important facts along the left-side of the tri-fold, spacing the information evenly. Add photos, illustrations or objects that relate to the text. These facts, dates, quotes and statistics are the basis for the analysis on the rest of the presentation board.

• 3

  In the center of the tri-fold include analysis of the research, such as a time line. Highlight the questions and topics that interest you most and how you pursued learning about them. Include three or four photos or illustrations that relate to the analysis.

• 4

  On the right-side of the tri-fold board, include a section that describes what you have learned from the research and analysis. Include additional questions or problems that could be explored later.

  Underneath your concluding information, place the bibliography that includes all of the sources used for research and highlights one that were particularly helpful or interesting.