(State Fair Eligible)

Beginner (grades 3-5 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or possessing an animal is not required.

Intermediate (grades 6-8 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or possessing an animal is not required.

Advanced (grades 9-12 suggested)

Create an educational poster, notebook or display about any manual activity or on any specie related topic of choice that is age/grade appropriate. Check with the Purdue Extension office in your county to determine if enrollment is required in the species project you want to learn about. Owning or possessing an animal is not required.

Poster Guidelines
• All posters, notebooks, and display boards must include a reference list indicating where information was obtained, giving credit to the original author, to complete the 4-H member’s exhibit. This reference list includes web site links, people and professionals interviewed, books, magazines, etc. It is recommended this reference list be attached to the back of a poster or display board, be the last page of a notebook, or included as part of the display visible to the public. A judge is not to discredit an exhibit for the manner in which references are listed.
• ALL posters must be 22x28 inches and displayed HORIZONTALLY 28” across. (Vertical posters will be dropped one place) All 4-H posters should use foam core board. This material can be used as the poster or can have a poster board attached to it.
• Foam core board may be purchased from the Extension Office. Be sure to purchase the correct size foam core board from other sources. It is not advisable to use plywood, or Masonite or similar materials for poster backing.
• Poster sleeves and salon print sleeves are available for purchase from the Extension Office and recommended. You may cover your poster with other clear plastic that is heavy enough not to wrinkle. DO NOT USE SARAN WRAP!!
• Project labels from the Extension Office must be attached to the lower right-hand corner of the poster on the outside of the plastic covering. Please allow room for this label when organizing your poster.
• Notebook exhibits must be displayed in a standard three ring binder.
Poster should "tell a story" or be informative to the audience. Will the viewer of your poster learn something from the exhibit?
• When designing your poster, consider: lines, shapes, textures, colors and placement of items.
• Pictures, graphics and artwork are encouraged.
• Make sure the poster accurately meets the guidelines and objectives of the activities in the manual.
• Information printed directly off the web will not be accepted.
• Materials included in the poster need to be educational, for the audience, and should demonstrate that the 4_Her was able to take what they learned from their research to create the poster.

Secrets of a Successful Poster
A successful poster will:
· Catch the eye of the passerby
· Be simple and clear
· Impress an idea or a fact upon the viewer
· Stimulate the viewer to support your idea, get more information, or take appropriate action.
· Have space left over—Posters that are uncluttered are easier to read.

An effective poster: attracts attention, focuses on a main interest or idea, and motivates you.

Planning A Poster

A poster should have one main idea. Have the reason clearly in mind before you start.
· Consider who your viewer will be
· Decide what you want them to know
· Decide what you want them to do
· Think of a clever theme or slogan
· Limit your effort to one main idea
· Make a small rough sketch
· Visual communication is an aid to what you are trying to teach with your project.

Choosing Colors
Color combinations affect how easily the message is read and the overall appearance of the poster.
· Consider the Contrast: This means you use dark letters on a light background, and light letters on a dark background.
· Let the most important items be the most important color.
· Colors that are close to the background shade will not show up well and cannot be read at a distance.
· Avoid using too many different colors. Two or three should be sufficient. You don’t want to overwhelm your main point!
· Avoid putting red and green next to each other—this is hard to focus on if a person is colorblind.
· Avoid bright neon colors—they may catch the eye, but they are hard to focus on.

Lettering
· Lower case letters are easier to read than all CAPITALS. Use capitals only for emphasizing an important phrase or word to give variety.
· Save fancy or script lettering for catching the attention of the viewer.
· When hand lettering, always use guidelines. Using a ruler, lightly pencil in straight lines that can be erased when your poster is complete.
· Letters may be cutout and glued on, or precut letters may be purchased.
· Keep written material to a minimum. Use only headings, captions and signs necessary to tell the story.

Use different size lettering for items of varying importance.
· Allow margins to keep things from running together and looking too cluttered.
· Below is a table of letter sizes and their effectiveness:

*Ask your parents, 4-H Leader, or older 4-H member to look at your poster and tell you what they think.

Revise-Re-Do-Rearrange
1. Cut out all your letters, pictures and graphics.
2. Draw guidelines and place or draw in letters.
3. Lay all your pieces of your poster out on the poster board.
4. Ask yourself, “How does it look?”
5. Revise and rearrange as needed. Re-Do anything that should be a different size or color.
6. Move things around until you are happy with the overall effect and message of your poster.
7. Glue everything in place.
9. Remember—NEATNESS COUNTS!