Customize Wanted Poster Templates
Use a customizable wanted poster template to create your own wanted poster!
If you're assigning this to your students, copy the poster to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!
Why Create a Wanted Poster?
A wanted poster is a fun and flexible classroom project that works across all grade levels and subject areas. With Storyboard That’s wanted poster maker, students can creatively display what they’ve learned about historical figures, book characters, endangered animals, or even scientific elements.
Using visual storytelling, students engage in critical thinking, artistic expression, and writing practice—all in one activity!
Educational Benefits of Wanted Posters
Use in Book Reports
Turn a book character analysis into a visually engaging project. Students can design a wanted poster that includes key details like character traits, motivations, and plot involvement.
Improve Writing and Language Skills
Students will practice concise, descriptive writing while crafting arresting captions and character profiles. This promotes persuasive writing and summary skills.
Enhance Attention to Detail
Wanted posters often include detailed physical descriptions, aliases, backstories, and reward amounts. These components sharpen students' observational skills and information synthesis.
Encourage Creative Expression
Students can personalize every element of their poster—from the fonts and borders to character costumes and backgrounds. This allows learners to express themselves creatively while staying focused on academic content.
Build Presentation and Communication Skills
When students present their wanted posters to the class, they develop confidence in public speaking and explaining key details about the person or concept they've portrayed.
Classroom Uses for Wanted Poster Templates
- ELA: Character analysis, book reports, author studies
- History: Famous figures, outlaws, revolutionaries
- Science: Wanted posters for invasive species, diseases, or chemical elements
- Biology: Endangered species profiles
- Social Emotional Learning: Empathy or conflict resolution scenarios
Ways to Differentiate Wanted Poster Activities
Support all learners with flexible and inclusive teaching strategies
Differentiating a wanted poster assignment ensures that every student—regardless of learning style, language level, or ability—can succeed and stay engaged. Below are classroom-tested ways to adapt this project:
Vary the Complexity of the Task
- For younger students or emerging writers, focus on basic character traits, a simple description, and an illustration.
- For older or more advanced students, require evidence from the text, quotes, or historical context to support poster details.
Offer Student Choice
- Draw their own character or scene
- Use the digital Storyboard Creator tools
- Present the poster with a short oral explanation or written paragraph
Support English Language Learners (ELLs)
- Provide sentence starters or vocabulary banks
- Use visual icons or translated instructions
- Allow ELLs to work with a partner or create bilingual posters
Make Accommodations for Students with IEPs or 504 Plans
- Allow audio recording instead of written text
- Use simplified poster templates
- Offer extra time or scaffolded support (e.g., fill-in-the-blank templates or printed word banks)
Try Partner or Group Versions
Have students work in pairs or small groups to foster collaboration, peer modeling, and social skills. Group versions can include a "Most Wanted Villains" gallery walk or a themed bulletin board.
Frequently Asked Questions about Wanted Posters
How do teachers use wanted posters in the classroom?
Teachers use wanted posters as creative assignments to help students summarize characters, explore historical figures, or explain scientific concepts in a fun and visual format.
What subjects can I use a wanted poster template for?
Wanted posters work in ELA, history, science, and even SEL. Use them for book characters, revolutionaries, endangered species, or empathy role-play activities.
What should be included on a student wanted poster?
A strong wanted poster should include a name, alias, physical description, reason for being wanted, reward amount, and a creative image or drawing.
What’s the best way to introduce a wanted poster activity to students?
Start with an example poster and model the process. Then, guide students through brainstorming key traits or facts before jumping into design.
How do wanted poster projects help students build writing skills?
They encourage concise, descriptive writing, summary, and persuasive language—all while engaging students in creative thinking.
Can I differentiate a wanted poster assignment for different learners?
Yes! You can simplify text requirements, offer word banks, use fill-in-the-blank templates, or let students record their content instead of writing.
Are wanted posters good for group work or class presentations?
Absolutely! Group poster creation promotes collaboration and lets students present to practice speaking and listening skills.
How do I grade a wanted poster activity fairly?
Use a rubric with clear criteria like creativity, accuracy, completeness, writing quality, and effort. Share it with students ahead of time.
How to Turn a Wanted Poster Into a Character Study Mini Project
Choose a character from a book or story.
Let students pick a protagonist, antagonist, or even a minor character with a mysterious past to keep things fun and flexible.
Research and list key character traits.
Have students identify descriptive traits, motivations, actions, and important moments from the story that define the character.
Draft a backstory and "crime" for the wanted poster.
This could be something humorous or serious based on the character’s actions—e.g., “Wanted for stealing hearts” or “Wanted for escaping the villain’s lair.”
Add creative visuals and descriptions.
Encourage students to draw or use digital tools to show what the character looks like, along with invented aliases, hideouts, or clues.
Include a reward and a call to action.
Make it interactive: “$500 Reward for any leads!” or “Reward: A lifetime supply of donuts.” These fun details boost engagement.
Present and explain the poster to the class.
Students can present individually or in pairs, explaining how the poster reflects the character’s traits and role in the story.
Create a bulletin board or digital gallery.
Display everyone’s posters for a gallery walk or digital slideshow—perfect for showcasing creativity and comprehension.
Introductory School Offer
ONLY$500
- 1 School
- 5 Teachers for One Year
- 1 Hour of Virtual PD
30 Day Money Back Guarantee • New Customers Only • Full Price After Introductory Offer • Access is for 1 Calendar Year
© 2025 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office