Using Zines in the Classroom: A Fun Way to Reinforce Learning

Derived from the word magazine, a zine is a short, self-published work that is often handmade and distributed on a limited basis. These publications are appealing because the artist has complete creative control over their design and content. Formats can range anywhere from a sheet of paper folded in eight, to several pages folded in two, to slightly more elaborate works with binding or other features. In terms of content, zines can include text, illustrations, photographs, or collages, making them highly adaptable to different styles of expression and different course material.

In short, thanks to their free-form nature, zines give students the opportunity to apply their learning and be creative at the same time!

Zines are not just projects for art class. Given their many educational benefits, zines lend themselves to all school subjects. Specifically, zines help students do the following:

• Exercise their creativity: Whether they are given carte blanche or provided with certain guidelines, students can use zines to explore their ideas and cultivate their personal expression.
• Develop their writing and reading skills: Text-based projects get students to organize their thoughts, put them in writing, and practise self-revision. You can also have students exchange zines so they can see their peers’ work and practise reading different styles of text.
• Build self-esteem: Completing a project from A to Z and producing a finished product they can hold in their hands lets students see the fruits of their labour and feel a sense of accomplishment.
• Stay motivated: A unique project like making a zine gets students fully engaged in their learning. It can also boost their motivation if the topic and content is meaningful to them.

At first glance, zines can be daunting for teachers and students alike. You might feel intimidated by the prospect of marking them, managing class time, and thinking outside the box, while your students may find a project of this kind overwhelming, especially if they are given few guidelines. Some students may also feel anxious about having to rely solely on their creativity. Here are a few tips on how to gently introduce your class to the concept of zines:

• Create a sample zine or show students existing publications. The Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ) catalogue includes a wide variety of zines (link in French). Students can also take inspiration from the examples offered by La Maison des jeunes de Verchères (French only).
• Highlight the cultural significance of zines: Discuss the origins of zine festivals, for instance, or the dedicated zine section at the Salon du livre de Montréal (link in French).
• Before your students’ first zine assignment, consider giving them a little extra guidance, such as by providing a template and specifying what to include on each page.
• Encourage students to work together at certain stages, such as when brainstorming ideas for their zine or assembling the final product.
• Suggest that students begin by making a plan or draft, for example by writing out their ideas on a separate sheet of paper.

Zines can transform classroom learning into an interactive and creative process. They allow students to express themselves while exploring school concepts in a stimulating new way. Here are some practical project ideas grouped by school subject:

English:

• Make a poetry zine (e.g., have each page feature a haiku or blackout poetry).
• Write a review of a book or assigned reading: For example, summarize the different parts of the story, give your overall opinion, or analyze aspects such as the characters, plot, and writing style.
• Make a reading passport.
• Create a comic strip that may (or may not) extend into a series of zines.
• Form a literature circle where students share their zines and discuss what they like about each other’s work.
• Write a fictional diary from the point of view of a literary character.

Science or History / Social Sciences:

• Present the results of a research project in the form of a zine (a creative alternative to the traditional poster or PowerPoint presentation).
• Document the steps and results of small scientific experiments.
• Write the biography of a scientist or an important historical figure.
• Create a timeline in zine form to describe a pivotal moment in history.

Math:

• Explain a mathematical concept (e.g., fractions, geometry) using examples and visuals.
• Create a quiz-style zine where each right-hand page contains a question and the answer is given on the back. Students can swap zines for a fun and easy way to test their knowledge.

Culture and Citizenship in Québec:

• Use zines to analyze or compare two cultural realities by highlighting similarities and differences (e.g., a comparison of two social or environmental movements).
• Demonstrate critical thinking by developing an opinion on various topics covered in class, such as individualism, the boundaries between public and private life, or engaging in social interactions online.

You can also use zines as a tool for evaluating a project (much like Alloprof’s current events podcast activity), as a take-home assignment, or as a personal project for students who tend to finish their work early.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to using zines in the classroom. Let your and your students’ imaginations lead the way, and you may just be surprised by the results!