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Critical Media Literacy: Commercial Advertising
Commercial advertising—we can't get away from it, but do we realize just how often we are being advertised to? With this lesson plan, scholars analyze mass media to identify how its techniques influence our daily lives. Learners browse...
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Create Your Own Ad
Students examine the elements of advertising. They analyze the format and structure of advertisements. They develop awareness of advertising techniques and explain that media messages and products are composed of a series of separate...
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Pet Pellets
Students create and design advertising for a tempting new pet food! They create an imaginary pet food, analyze and identify types of propaganda and design packaging and advertising for the pet food.
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Food Advertising Tricks
Young scholars recognize techniques used to make food look appealing on television and in advertising, and explore the separate elements that compose media messages and products.
School Improvement in Maryland
Evaluating Political Advertisements
How do interest groups try to influence elections? As part of their study of the election process, groups view 30-second advertisements produced by advocacy groups and use the provided worksheet to evaluate these ads. They then craft...
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The Persuaders
Have your upper graders watch the documentary, "The Persuaders" as they explore how advertisers try to gain potential customers. The video is followed by a discussion and close examination of new marketing trends and strategies.
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Targets
Students evaluate advertisements for alcohol products. They watch a video, answer discussion questions, and create a collage using magazine alcohol ads with rewritten captions.
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"Let's Make Some Money"
Students complete a project about economics, supply, and advertising. In this advertising instructional activity, students discuss how money is made, entrepreneurs, and advertising. They make their own business with toys to sell to...
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Communications: Advertising in Schools
Students will become aware of advertising already in the schools and will work on critical thinking and debating skills.
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"Targets"
Students investigate how alcohol advertisers target young people. They watch and discuss a video, create a collage using alcohol ads, develop captions for each ad, and discuss and evaluate how young people are the targets of alcohol...
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Create a Popstar
Young scholars develop an awareness of one's media and consumer habits. They recognize advertising techniques, such as the use of celebrity spokespersons and music.
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Miss America
The first part of this article by PBS on the Miss America pageants can be used in a health class when it's time to talk about body image. There are links to related articles. There are some great questions for discussion. There are ideas...
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Malaysia: Foreign Investment Returns
Students examine the Malaysian economy and the effect of the SARS epidemic. They conduct research, write an editorial evaluating Malaysia's proposed budget for 2004, and develop an advertising campaign to promote business in Malaysia.
American Documentary
Comparative Religion Investigation: What Happens When We Die?
How do different religions offer explanations for what happens when we die? Invite your learners to consider the variance and complexity of religious beliefs, and to research and compare/contrast the concept of death and afterlife...
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Cost Of Cool
High schoolers explore how marketers use the idea of "cool" to sell clothing and accessories, and become aware of their own attitudes and perceptions about what is cool. They become aware of what motivates them to buy certain things
PBS
Alexander Hamilton: Lawyer, Writer, and Founding Father
Scholars analyze the impact Alexander Hamilton had on the creation of the United States. Primary documents and video clips give learners a glimpse into the life of one of America's Founding Fathers, arming them with enough information to...
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The Perfect President
Students advertise for the perfect president. In this presidential duties activity, students determine the attributes that the ideal president should have and then write job descriptions for the role.
Council for Economic Education
Did You Get the Message?
Students investigate how advertising gets the buyer's attention and how it influences buying decisions. They then create a print ad for "Burp Cola" and for one of their favorite books.
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Reviewing the Election Process by NOW Classroom for PBS
Students take a closer look at presidential elections. In this election process lesson plan, students discuss the roles of the primary, caucus, polls, Electoral College, delegates, and lobbyists in the process. Students then access the...
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Mapping an Empire
How did the expansion of the Roman Empire during the first century contribute to its downfall? Using a map of the Roman Empire in 44 BC and one of the Roman Empire in 116 AD as references, class member use critical reading skills to...
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The Other Drug War
Students examine the concepts of media literacy and how they apply to prescription drug advertising. They watch and discuss the Frontline video, "The Other Drug War," complete a worksheet, and answer questions regarding magazine drug...
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Exploring Media Messages
This instructional activity uses discussion and activity to help students explore how advertising and the media affect self-image. Students will learn how to recognize how advertising exploits young people.
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Read That Label!
High schoolers explore reading nutritional labels and making good food choices through simulation. They prepare and design a label for a product. In addition, they create packaging and advertising to ensure access to the population.
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Battle of the X-Planes
Students view a video about cost of materials. They work together to develop their own backpack taking note of the cost of materials. They create an advertisement to accompany their creation. They share their ideas with the class.