The One Pager Project is a creative and engaging way to assess student understanding on a variety of topics. This blog will explain exactly what a One Pager is, how to use one, provide you with plenty of One Pager examples, and even give you the opportunity to grab a free One Pager template. While you may think this looks like a simple project at first, you’ll be surprised to find that the One Pager combines both artistry and analysis which can really help your students think creatively and deeply about a text. Let me show you how a One Pager can transform the way you think about assessing your students.
What is a One Pager Project?
The concept of the One Pager is simple. It’s a single-page response to a reading that connects the ideas in the text to the student’s thoughts creatively. The goal is for students to show they understand the big ideas, themes, or connections of a text. Students can reflect thoughtfully on a piece of text and demonstrate understanding all on a blank 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper. These can be used for whole class novels, choice reading, short stories, etc. See below for a few examples!
Variations of the One Pager Project
One of the greatest aspects about the One Pager is just how diverse the assignment can be. Teachers can provide as many guidelines as makes sense for their students’ needs and abilities. If you’re looking for something specific (like character comparison), it is easy to include that in your project instructions. If you’re looking for something more student-led, create a list of possibilities they can choose to include. Read below for some of my suggestions.
These are the requirements I usually make non-negotiable:
- Title & Author
- Summary
- Review
- Images that connect to the text
- Quotes
After my required items, I start to choose things that would make the One Pager more unique to the text. Is there something specific you want to assess your students on? Include it!
Here are a few requirements I’ve used to create variety in my One Pagers:
- A poem
- A collection of songs that reflect a character, theme, etc.
- Favorite character, event, etc.
- A border that symbolizes something from the text
How to Use a One Pager
The One Pager can be used to assess knowledge of a novel or short story, be used in literature circles or independent reading assignments. You can even adapt it for poetry, films, articles, TED talks, plays, or ice breakers during the first week of school. The possibilities truly are endless.
One of the best parts of a One Pager is the fact that no two are alike, so it makes it very hard for students to duplicate work. Pro Tip: If you are teaching virtually and you want to make sure your students’ work is truly theirs, have them take a photo of themselves with their completed One Pager as part of the turn in requirements.
What if my students aren’t “artsy”?
Maybe the biggest setback to this assignment is the anticipation of students worrying about the artistic quality of this assignment. While your more artistic students might excitedly crank out Pinterest-worthy projects, what about those who shy away from having to combine their knowledge with visual elements?
An easy tweak is to provide a template for students to use if they aren’t sure how to design their One Pager to include all of your requirements. You can subscribe above to grab my free template or create your own using programs like Canva or PowerPoint. Having a bit of constraint can actually be liberating for students who might get overwhelmed looking at all that blank space. In addition, try having a variety of examples available for students to glean inspiration from. It may make the “blankness” feel a little less intimidating. Students who want more creative freedom can simply turn the page over and use the blank side.
Are you looking to use a One Pager in your class, but feel overwhelmed with the possibilities? Click here to get my done-for-you One Pager resource that includes print-and-go and editable instructions. Want both a printable and digital version of this resource? Grab my bundle and save 20% on both.
Have you used One Pagers yet in your classroom? I’d love to hear how you’ve adapted the assignment and add to my own list of ways to implement it in the classroom. Sound off in the comments below or follow me on Instagram or Facebook to join in on the discussion.
Happy teaching!
