Zine Making Part 2

My second delivery of my zine-making unit with a few modifications went well amongst my new group of eighth graders.

In an age where digital media dominates, there's something refreshingly authentic about the tactile experience of flipping through the pages of a zine. Zines rose to popularity in the punk subculture of the 1970s and have since evolved into a powerful tool for self-expression, activism, and community engagement. Today, in my classroom, they offer an avenue for my grade 8 students to delve into current events, explore pressing issues, and become agents of change within their communities.

The history of zines is deeply rooted in counterculture movements. Emerging in the 1930s with science fiction fanzines, they gained momentum in the 1970s and 1980s with the rise of punk rock, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights movements. Zines provided a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, free from the constraints of mainstream media. Over time, their DIY ethos and grassroots approach have made them a symbol of independent thought and creative resistance.

Samples of zines courtesy of the Toronto Zine Library

My second delivery of my unit on zines since last year, I revisited my unit plan with the same commitment to enhancing student learning. With a focus on accountability, I've integrated detailed steps to facilitate effective research. I've also emphasized the importance of dividing tasks within groups, fostering collaboration skills and individual accountability. Introducing time management guidelines ensures students stay on track to meet deadlines, enhancing overall productivity.

For time efficiency, instead of giving students a choice on a topic to explore like I did with my last group of students, I divided my class into seven groups and assigned each a news article themed around a current event or social issue. I provided students to explore diverse topics ranging from homelessness in Toronto to the civil war in Sudan, housing crises among Ukrainian refugees in Toronto, the war in Gaza, wildfires in British Columbia, and endangered whale species. Exposing students to a wide array of real-world issues, I hope it fostered empathy, and understanding for different contexts and challenges amongst the learners.

The next task involved learners to find two additional sources online related to their assigned articles. This encouraged students to delve deeper into their chosen topics, broadening their perspectives and enhancing their research skills. In addition, it reinforced the importance of corroborating information and identify various viewpoints which promotes critical analysis and discernment.

Examples of research notes compiled by some of my students

Following their research, students reflected on their assigned issue and responded through poetry, a news article, informal letters, essays, or songs. Allowing them to express their thoughts and emotions in diverse ways, this catered to the diverse learning styles and interests in the classroom. It also promotes creativity, self-expression, and communication skills.

A fictional letter related to the issue they explored drafted by one of the students

Finally, the culmination of the project involved compiling all their writing into a zine. They began by planning layouts on each page, considering where to place their writing and images, and organizing their work by making a table of contents. The following exhibits the work that they produced thus far into the project:

The zine provided a tangible outcome for their efforts that encouraged collaboration and teamwork within the group. After completion they can share their work with their peers and other members of the school community. This act of sharing their zine to wider audience promotes dialogue and awareness about the chosen issues, fostering a sense of agency and activism among students.

Final zines created by my 8th graders

For grade 8 students, engaging in zine-making projects can be a transformative experience. It encourages learners to actively participate in current events and empowers them to be proactive in their communities. Whether addressing local environmental concerns, advocating for social justice, or promoting mental health awareness, zines provide a medium for students to amplify their voices and initiate meaningful change. Through collaborative efforts, they can spark conversations, raise awareness, and mobilize others to take action.

Lastly, unlike traditional classroom assignments, zines offer students creative freedom to express themselves authentically. They can experiment with visual layouts, collage artwork, handwritten text, and personal narratives which results in unique creations that reflect their individuality.

Overall, I think my students responded well to the delivery of this unit. With a few modifications, learners better connected to the creative process, and reflected more thoughtfully to the issues they explored. Revisiting and modifying lesson plans and units is well worth it.