Media Smarts
Newspaper Ads
Just how free is the press? After examining the advertising and propaganda techniques used by advertisers, class members consider the influence advertisers may exert over newspaper content.
Curated OER
Lemonade For Sale
2-3rd graders listen to the story, Lemonade for Sale, by Stuart J. Murphy. In the story, children produce and sell lemonade to raise money for their clubhouse, create a product, classify the resources used in production as natural...
Curated OER
Ad Awareness
Students review advertisements. In this advertising lesson, students define advertising and determine the main reason ads are created. Students define what it means to be a consumer and advertiser. Students are divided into groups and...
Media Smarts
Packaging Tricks
As part of their study of how advertisers use various techniques to influence consumers, kids examine the design, the promotions, and the product placement in the packaging of their favorite foods.
Curated OER
Comparison Shopping
Elementary schoolers explore the concepts associated with comparison shopping, and the concept of need versus want. They also look closely at the power of advertising and become more aware of the messages that ads present. After taking...
Curated OER
Energy Plus!
"Energy Plus!" from Together Counts is three days worth of lessons, discussions, and activities about nutrition. The materials help you teach youngsters about eating healthy and burning calories. Energy in and energy out. Included are...
Curated OER
BEGINNER LEVEL LESSON PLAN ANTICIPATORY SET
Young scholars are be able to analyze primary sources for evidence of American entrepreneurship during the early 20th century. They identify the attributes that helped George Eastman succeed as an entrepreneur and consider the role...
Curated OER
Paper Towel Testing
Students discuss whether there are variations in absorbency and wet strength amount different brands of paper towels. They compare advertising claims and personal preferences and perform tests to reach a conclusion of which brand is the...
Southern Poverty Law Center
Analyzing Gender Stereotypes in Media
Why might toy advertisers use gender stereotypes to sell their products? Young people think critically about media messages and its role in gender stereotyping with a thought-provoking lesson.
Curated OER
A Shopping Spree!
In this adding prices of items instructional activity, students choose items and add their totals using mental math, paper and pencil, and the calculator.
Curated OER
Persuasive Writing -- Commercial Style
Students create persuasive TV commercials for common products. They develop a list of products, write the script for a commercial, and act-out and videotape the commercial to present to the class.
Curated OER
The Branding of America (And Your State)
Students investigate about the origins of some major U.S. brands. They explore local products that stimulate the economy. Students create a map showing where those products originate. Students discover the products that their local area...
Curated OER
Understanding My Pyramid
Students examine the food pyramid and construct a healthy meal. For this food pyramid lesson, students examine the new food pyramid that includes fats and oils, and is arranged with brightly colored triangles. They use grocery store adds...
Curated OER
Philanthropy "Giants"
Students report on the activism of corporate philanthropists. In this service learning instructional activity, students research companies that operate as philanthropists and identify their recipients.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: We Are Consumers and Producers
This lesson plan is geared toward beginning economics concepts. "In this instructional activity you are going to learn more about how you and others are consumers and producers."
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Be an Ad Detective
Every day, students are bombarded by advertising. They cannot escape it. But marketers realize that many ypung people are becoming very good at tuning ads out. Businesses thus are becoming more creative in their communication with...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Did You Get the Message?
Advertising is the primary tool used by businesses to tell consumers about the goods and services they sell in the marketplace. Businesses also use advertising to try to convince consumers to buy what they are selling. Advertisements do...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Believe It or Not?
This lesson reveals to students how advertisers use words and images to make goods and services look their best. To protect consumers and make sure that competition among sellers is fair in the marketplace, the federal government...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Reading Discussion Guide: The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble
In the year 1692, life changes forever for ten-year-old Abigail Faulkner and her family. In Salem, Massachusetts, witches have been found, and widespread fear and panic reign mere miles from Abigail's home of Andover. When two girls are...
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Albright Knox Art Gallery: Can It?
Pop artists used consumer products, advertising, and popular culture icons as the major source for subject matter in their art. Between 1962 and 1967, Andy Warhol painted soup cans, both individually and in groups. 100 Cans is one of the...
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: A Paste With Taste
In this activity, students learn about the ingredients in toothpaste and develop a recipe for a new toothpaste, for which they must also create a slogan and an ad for marketing their product to consumers.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Don't Buy It: Get Media Smart!: Buying Smart
Play a Price is Right style game and learn about merchandising. You will also find lots of information about advertising, brand names, and product value.
PBS
Pbs (Affluenza): What Are Advertisers Selling
What are advertisers really selling? Are there hidden messages in ads? In this lesson, students explore the concept of persuasive advertising and evaluate ads directed at young consumers. A timely lesson that would generate interesting...