Crafting Connections: Designing a Diplomatic Pin Page URL copied to clipboard!

How can a pin convey a message on foreign policy? 

According to Secretary Madeleine Albright, the purpose of foreign policy is to “persuade others to do what we want, or better yet, to want what we want. To accomplish this, a president or secretary of state has a range of tools.” Secretary Albright used the power of pins to express what she was saying; a visual way to deliver a message.  

In this activity, students will design their own pin depicting their stance on a current event or issue, taking inspiration from Secretary Albright’s pin collection. 

Materials & Links

• Activity Google Doc
• Teacher’s presentation in Google Slides (This resource is set to “view only.” Please make a copy to modify the resource and use it with your students.) 
• Hand-out Google Doc (This resource is set to “view only.” Please make a copy to modify the resource and use it with your students.) 
• Read My Pins Online Exhibit

Activity Instructions

1. Present slide 5. Explain to students that Secretary Madeleine Albright was a professor, author, diplomat, and businesswoman. She served as the Secretary of State from 1997 to 2001.
2. Present slide 6. Explain the purpose of her pin collection.
3. Have students view Secretary Albright’s pins using the Read My Pins online exhibit. Discuss the elements of symbolism behind the pins and the stories that accompany them. 
4. After viewing Secretary Albright’s pins, have students create their own pin depicting their stance on a current event. 
5. Distribute activity hand-out that includes directions and a rubric. Walk students through the directions. 
6. Once students complete their pin design, have students present their design to the class.

Standards Alignment

• VA:Cr1.2.Ia: Shape an artistic investigation of an aspect of present-day life using a contemporary practice of art or design.
• MA:Cn11.1.Ia: Demonstrate and explain how media artworks and ideas relate to various contexts, purposes, and values, such as social trends, power, equality, and personal/cultural identity.

Recommended Grade Levels

• 9th-12th