Share 5 Things that you Want
Create a colorful poster listing and illustrating five things you want, then present and discuss your reasons with family or classmates to practice communication skills.
About this activity
Create a colorful poster listing and illustrating five things you want, then present and discuss your reasons with family or classmates to practice communication skills.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Find a clear table or floor space and spread out your materials.
- 2
Step 2
Think of five things you really want and say each one out loud or whisper it to yourself.
- 3
Step 3
Write a big fun title at the top of your poster like "5 Things I Want".
- 4
Step 4
Use your pencil and ruler to draw five evenly spaced boxes or circles on the poster.
- 5
Step 5
Write one of your five wants inside each box using big clear letters.
- 6
Step 6
Write one short sentence next to each want that explains why you want it.
- 7
Step 7
Draw a picture for each want inside or beside its box to show what it looks like.
- 8
Step 8
Color your drawings and letters using your coloring materials to make them bright.
- 9
Step 9
Glue on stickers or magazine pictures to decorate and make your poster pop.
- 10
Step 10
Check your poster for spelling and neatness and erase any small mistakes.
- 11
Step 11
Practice saying each want and your short reason out loud one time through.
- 12
Step 12
Present your poster to a family member or classmate and explain why you chose each want.
- 13
Step 13
Ask two questions to your listener and listen to their answers to practice talking and listening.
- 14
Step 14
Share your finished poster on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How to do the 'Share 5 Things That You Want' activity?
To do the 'Share 5 Things That You Want' activity, start by brainstorming ideas and choosing five things to include. On a poster or large paper, write each item as a headline and add colorful illustrations or magazine cutouts beside each one. Include one-sentence reasons under each item. Decorate with markers, stickers, or labels. Practice a short presentation, then take turns sharing with family or classmates, inviting questions and discussing why each item is meaningful.
What materials do I need for the 'Share 5 Things That You Want' poster activity?
You'll need a poster board or large sheet of paper, markers, crayons or colored pencils, glue, scissors, and magazines or printed images for collages. Optional items: stickers, washi tape, rulers, sticky notes, and a camera or phone to record presentations. Use child-safe scissors and non-toxic glue; substitute construction paper if you don't have a poster. Prepare simple templates or labels for younger children to cut down on writing.
What ages is the 'Share 5 Things That You Want' activity suitable for?
This activity suits ages about 4–12 with adjustments. Preschoolers (4–5) can draw and label with help from parents. Early elementary (6–8) can write short words or sentences and add basic reasons. Older children (9–12) can create more detailed illustrations, write full explanations, and practice presentation skills. Teens can adapt it to digital slides or a short video. Tailor complexity, language, and supervision to each child's abilities.
What are the benefits and safety tips for the 'Share 5 Things That You Want' activity?
Benefits include building self-expression, vocabulary, decision-making, and public speaking skills, plus listening and empathy when peers share. It helps children set goals and practice explaining reasons clearly. Safety tips: use non-toxic supplies, supervise scissors and glue, and create a respectful space—set rules about asking kind questions and avoiding teasing. If lists include sensitive wishes, guide the conversation toward values and achievable steps rather than private or risky topics.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have poster board, a ruler, or stickers?
If you don't have poster board, use a sheet of printer paper or a flattened cereal box as your poster, use the straight edge of a book instead of a ruler, and substitute cut-out pictures from magazines or colored pencil drawings for stickers while still drawing five boxes or circles and coloring them with your coloring materials.
My boxes aren't even and glue got messy—how can I fix it?
Lightly mark even spacing with a pencil and a book-edge guide before drawing the five boxes or circles, erase small mistakes as the instructions say, and press glued magazine pictures under a clean heavy book for a few minutes to prevent smudges before you practice saying each want.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger kids, simplify by making three large boxes, using stickers for pictures, and writing one big word per want, while older kids can add extra boxes with a one-sentence plan for how they'll try to get each want, decorate with magazine collages, and prepare a longer presentation to share on DIY.org.
What are some ways to extend or personalize the poster project?
Add a 'When I'll get it' timeline or a short 'How I'll try to get it' sentence under each box, use mixed materials like fabric scraps or glitter with your coloring materials and glue, write a unique big fun title, and take photos or record your presentation to post on DIY.org after asking your listener two questions.