Imagine taking a class that produces a real product that has to be conceptualized, created, and sold throughout the school year. Yearbook is exactly that. The yearbook students start each year by developing a theme or concept for that year’s yearbook. Students must choose colors and fonts as well as repeating theme elements. Then students need to design the pages for each section of the book. At the same time, there is real pressure to collect photographs from each of the different events going on at Benton throughout the school year. Some events happen all in one day, like Homecoming, and collecting photographs is essential on that day. Yearbook students also interview students and staff to create captions and articles for the yearbook.
The yearbook students also work on marketing through social media and around the school to encourage students and parents to purchase yearbooks. Students also fundraise to sell sponsorships and senior recognition ads to help cover the cost of the yearbooks. Creating the yearbook takes the entire school year, and students are busy working on the book through every season. At the end of the year, the yearbook students have taken a concept and created a concrete product. The yearbook is published and distributed to buyers at the start of the next school year.
The yearbook pushes students to learn new skills and teaches about time management. This real-world project-based learning experience creates so many new opportunities for students. The students involved in the yearbook, either during or outside of the yearbook class, create and market two yearbooks (middle school and high school) each year.
