Activity Overview
Movie posters are a fun way for students to boil down the most important aspects of a novel. After reading Fish in a Tree, students will create a movie poster that showcases the setting, characters and a chosen scene or overarching themes of the story. Students can include the title and author of the book, a catchy tagline, and a "critic's review" informing the audience why they should go to see the movie and briefly describing the compelling story.
To make this a class assignment, consider giving each student a different chapter or scene to focus on. When students complete their posters, they can be printed out and hung in the classroom. Students should be prepared to present on the choices they made during the creation process.
For additional templates to add to this assignment, check out our movie poster templates!
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a movie poster for the book Fish in a Tree.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify scenes, characters, items and /or animals appropriate to Fish in a Tree and arrange them artfully on the poster. You may choose to showcase a particular scene in the book or an overarching theme.
- Add the title and author of the book as well as a catchy slogan or tagline.
- Add a "critic's review": one to three sentences describing why the audience should go to see this movie and what is compelling about the story.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Includes Title, Author, catchy slogan and a 1-3 sentence critic's review that accurately describes the story and why people should go to see the movie. | Missing one element of text. | Missing two or more elements of text. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict a scene or theme of the story with clear visuals including an appropriate scene, character, items, etc. | Illustrations depict a scene or theme from the story but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not depict a scene or theme from the story. |
Activity Overview
Movie posters are a fun way for students to boil down the most important aspects of a novel. After reading Fish in a Tree, students will create a movie poster that showcases the setting, characters and a chosen scene or overarching themes of the story. Students can include the title and author of the book, a catchy tagline, and a "critic's review" informing the audience why they should go to see the movie and briefly describing the compelling story.
To make this a class assignment, consider giving each student a different chapter or scene to focus on. When students complete their posters, they can be printed out and hung in the classroom. Students should be prepared to present on the choices they made during the creation process.
For additional templates to add to this assignment, check out our movie poster templates!
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a movie poster for the book Fish in a Tree.
Student Instructions:
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify scenes, characters, items and /or animals appropriate to Fish in a Tree and arrange them artfully on the poster. You may choose to showcase a particular scene in the book or an overarching theme.
- Add the title and author of the book as well as a catchy slogan or tagline.
- Add a "critic's review": one to three sentences describing why the audience should go to see this movie and what is compelling about the story.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text | Includes Title, Author, catchy slogan and a 1-3 sentence critic's review that accurately describes the story and why people should go to see the movie. | Missing one element of text. | Missing two or more elements of text. |
| Illustrations | Illustrations depict a scene or theme of the story with clear visuals including an appropriate scene, character, items, etc. | Illustrations depict a scene or theme from the story but are unclear or incomplete. | Illustrations do not depict a scene or theme from the story. |
How Tos about Fish in a Tree Movie Poster
Organize a classroom gallery walk for movie posters
Arrange students' posters around the room to create a gallery walk. Gallery walks let students see and appreciate each other's creative work, encouraging peer feedback and building presentation confidence.
Set clear expectations for peer feedback
Explain the type of comments students should give—focus on creativity, connection to the novel, and design elements. Specific, positive feedback helps students learn from one another and reinforces key concepts.
Guide students to circulate and observe posters
Instruct students to walk around, view each poster, and jot down notes on what stands out. Active observation promotes engagement and critical thinking about different artistic and literary interpretations.
Facilitate a short pair or group discussion after the walk
Encourage students to share their favorite ideas or designs with classmates. Collaborative reflection deepens understanding and builds classroom community.
Wrap up by highlighting creative approaches and connections to the novel
Summarize the activity by pointing out unique choices and how posters reflect key themes from Fish in a Tree. This reinforces both content comprehension and creative expression.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fish in a Tree Movie Poster
What is the Fish in a Tree movie poster activity for students?
The Fish in a Tree movie poster activity is a creative assignment where students design a poster that highlights key elements from the novel, such as the setting, characters, main themes, or scenes. This helps students engage deeply with the book while practicing summarization and design skills.
How do you make a movie poster for Fish in a Tree in a middle school classroom?
To create a Fish in a Tree movie poster, students select important scenes or themes, include the title and author, add a catchy tagline, and write a short critic's review. Teachers can assign different scenes to each student and display the finished posters in the classroom for presentations.
What should be included on a Fish in a Tree movie poster?
A Fish in a Tree movie poster should feature the book’s title, author, a representative scene or theme, main characters, a creative tagline, and a brief critic's review explaining why the story is engaging.
Why use movie poster assignments for books like Fish in a Tree?
Movie poster assignments encourage students to synthesize the most important aspects of a novel, foster creative expression, and allow for deeper understanding of characters and themes in works like Fish in a Tree.
Are there templates for Fish in a Tree movie poster assignments?
Yes, movie poster templates are available to help guide students in creating organized and visually appealing posters for Fish in a Tree or other novels. Templates can save time and inspire creativity.
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