Project Overview

This magazine was written, illustrated, and designed by sixth grade students at High Tech Middle School in San Diego, California.

Students chose the topic as a class, and conducted research including fieldwork and interviews with experts as individuals and in small groups. Students wrote and illustrated articles about different ways the world might end. They used professional software to design the layout of the magazine and create accompanying animations. In addition to the magazine articles, they also designed the cover, table of contents, and a wealth of supplemental material, including games, a quiz, and even advertisements to create a very professional looking magazine.

Most of the articles are two-page spreads, with a title, illustrations, sidebars, and text, each identifying a potential cause for the apocalypse, from Y2K to religious prophecies, though most deal with environmental concerns, such as deforestation and natural disasters.

When the project was completed, students presented it to parents, fellow students, and the experts they interviewed. Finally, the magazine was printed and mailed out to buyers.

The Flash animations students created for this project can be viewed at mswongsdp.weebly.com. Additional information about the design and learning process, including how to order a copy of the magazine, is at http://bobbyshaddoxtl.weebly.com/end-of-the-world-uncovered.html.