ARTICLE ACTIVITY – FOR TEACHERS
Cover creation LO: To understand the different elements of a magazine front cover LO: To understand how a magazine front cover attracts readers LO: To create a magazine cover that will attract readers Overview
Children are invited to create their own magazine front cover for Britannica Magazine, exploring how front covers are used to engage readers and the different elements involved. This activity can support learning in: Literacy and language Art and design ICT Media
Activities include:
Analysing a magazine cover Understanding layout
You will need:
Pens Drawing materials The worksheets The front cover template or plain A4 paper
Once your class have completed their front covers, they could be shared and reviewed by their classmates to see who has made the most eye-catching cover. They could vote for which one they would want to read the most! Front cover designs could also be used to create a display. Don’t forget to share their work on social media and tag Britannica Magazine. We’d love to see it!
Facebook: @britannicamagazine Instagram: @britannicamagazine Twitter: @britannicamag #BritannicaMag The ultimate magazine for curious young minds!
Create your own cover! Britannica Magazine has amazing front covers, created by illustrators and designers who work hard to make them eye-catching and interesting. The front cover must communicate information in an exciting way, to help make people want to pick up the magazine and read it. Have a look at these four magazine front covers:
Think about:
What makes the front cover look exciting and interesting? What kinds of images have been used? How much text is on the front cover? How can you tell what is going to be inside the magazine?
Note down your ideas in the space below.
The ultimate magazine for curious young minds!
Front cover layout
There are different parts of a magazine front cover that work together to help attract readers and give them the information they need to decide whether they would like to read the magazine. Have a look at the diagram below. Read the labels to tell you what each part of the front cover is for.
MASTHEAD This is the name of the magazine. It will usually be in the same style in every issue so readers can recognise it easily. CENTRAL IMAGE This is the main image on the magazine front cover and will usually show something that links to a feature article in the magazine.
DATE/PRICE/ BARCODE This is necessary information that shows what date the magazine was published, how much it costs and the barcode will enable shops to scan the magazine at the checkout till. The barcode is usually placed in a less important position than the other elements on the cover.
COVERLINES This is the text that gives further information about the content of the magazine to attract the reader. SECONDARY IMAGES These are other images that appear on the front cover to attract attention and show more detail about the contents of the magazine.
The ultimate magazine for curious young minds!
What would YOU choose to put on the front cover if you were creating the magazine?
Using the template or a plain piece of A4 paper, design a front cover for Britannica Magazine, using your own style and whatever medium you prefer: pens, pencils, paint, the computer, or even by making a collage! You can make your front cover about the topics shown in the magazine covers below or about a topic you choose. Remember, you need to think about how to make your front cover interesting and exciting. You need to include all the different elements found on a front cover, so readers know what’s inside the magazine and can decide whether they want to read it or not.
The ultimate magazine for curious young minds!
The ultimate magazine for curious young minds!
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