Canva and Quick Draws

In my Sophomore English class, we have been reading Beowulf as part of our poetry unit. I wanted them to do more than simply track plot points and memorize characters. I wanted them to wrestle with the epic (its battles, its themes of loyalty and fate, and its larger-than-life hero). As we read Beowulf, students completed Quick Draws at specific points of the epic poem. Instead of summarizing in sentences, students translated the action into symbols, perspective, and visual emphasis. Quick Draws leveled the playing field. Some students who are hesitant to speak during whole-class discussions found confidence in sharing their visual interpretations. In the end, Quick Draws transformed our study of Beowulf. They encouraged creativity, strengthened comprehension, and fostered higher-order thinking. Students were not passively consuming a tale written over a thousand years ago; they were actively interpreting it.

In my Junior English class, we have been reading The Great Gatsby. For one of the assignments, students were tasked with creating a Gatsby-style party invitation using Canva. The goal was to design something visually appealing, but to capture the tone, themes, and symbolism of the novel. Students were challenged to design an invitation that reflected Fitzgerald’s commentary on excess, illusion, and longing. After completing their designs, students presented their invitations to the class. Each presentation required them to explain:

The presentations became mini literary analyses. Using Canva gave students ownership of their learning. They were excited to experiment with layouts, typography, and imagery. Students who might typically hesitate during traditional discussion found confidence in presenting their visual interpretations. By transforming a central element of The Great Gatsby into a hands-on design and presentation project, students moved beyond basic comprehension.

William Carson
Southwestern High School
Pulaski County Schools
10th and 11th