PBS
Elasticity of Demand
High schoolers explore the current economy and determine what items will or will not sell in a poor economy and why. After researching aspects of the current economy, reviewing a provided case study, completing the provided worksheet,...
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Polar Explorers-Sir Ernest Shackleton
Students discuss Sir Ernest Shackleton and his participation in the Discovery expedition in 1901 to the South Pole. Students write a persuasive letter of application to an ad Shackleton placed in a London newspaper looking for recruits...
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What's In the Shopping Bag?
Students explore the techniques used by advertisers to sell toys and snack foods, increase awareness of consumer habits and media influences and differentiate between information and selling.
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Design Your Own Cereal Box
Students explore the ways in which media messages work and the ways in which consumers are targeted.
PBS
African American History: Honored as Heroes
To gain an understanding of the treatment of African American soldiers during World War I, class members watch an excerpt from the History Detectives film, Our Colored Heroes, and then examine three recruitment posters from that time...
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Talk Back
Young scholars study print and TV ads and search for examples in which advertising companies rely on negative stereotypes or misleading information to market their products.
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Business: What Are Advertisers Selling?
Students will search for hidden messages in advertising and the "hidden audience." They gain a greater understanding of the structures of advetising and marketing.
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Social Studies: Cultural New Orleans
Young scholars observe the PBS film, "New Orleans," to explore such topics as race relations, cultural history, and urbanization. After examining n interactive map displaying the city at various dates in its history, students role-play...
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Self-Image: The Fantasy, The Reality
Students examine the issue of body image and the media. They watch and discuss a video, identify ads with unrealistic images, write a letter to the magazine, develop a timeline of changing body types, and conduct research.
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The Best Birthday Present Ever
Students view a PBS "In the Mix" video about smoking and identify cigarette ingredients, the physical effects of smoking and techniques used in tobacco advertising. They compose a letter persuading someone to quit smoking.
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Paper Bridge
Students view a video about bridges. They create their own bridge out of paper and share it with the class. They create an advertisement for a bridge shown in the film.
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Is the Price Right?
Students explore the techniques used by advertisers to sell goods, increase their awareness of consumer habits, differentiate between information and selling, and become aware of what motivates them to buy products.
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Are You Plugged In?
High schoolers develop an awareness of one's own media habits. Make connections between ads and one's own consumer behavior. They track their current TV and/or Internet viewing habits and video game time by keeping a TV Diary for one week.
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Writing to Publicize an Event--The Cultural Day Festival on Sapelo Island
Young scholars create a poster advertising the Gullah Geechee Cultural Festival on Sapelo Island. In this Gullah Geechee culture lesson, students watch a video called "Gullah Music" and discuss the music and traditions of the slaves...
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Stop the Bus: Confronting Our Assumptions About Muslims in America
Students explore Virginia Interfaith Center's A More Perfect Union "Misunderstanding" Ad Campaign, view two episodes of PBS America at a Crossroads series, examine historical context of colonialism and geo-political tensions in Middle...
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What does it mean to be American?
Students create a mural depicting what it means to be an American. In this being American lesson plan, students pull out magazine ads that depict what it means to be an American, then they make a mural out of it, and finally they present...
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Designing a Poster to Communicate Information: Yellowstone National Park
It's not hard to convince someone to visit the beauty of Yellowstone National Park. But there's more than meets the eye in this region! Learners watch a short historical video and conduct research before creating an advertisement for...
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Advertisers Tread Lightly; Quietly Encouraging Consumers To Spend Again
Students analyze how one national company responded to the tragedy incorporating special message into its advertising. They are to attain knowledge of advertising as it relates to current events.
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Ride 'Em Cowboy (Buffalo Bill Cody and the Wild West Show)
Students research the impact of Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show on the world's view of American western culture. They create a poster advertising the Wild West Show.
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The President: Politician in Chieft
Learners explore the role of the U.S. President and the media coverage in presidential elections. They discuss what it means to be informed, the issues they consider most important, and reflect on what they learned from their interviews....
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A Likely and Unlikely Match: Frida and Diego
Delve into the fascinating relationship between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera using this resource. Learners discuss the lives of these famous artists, and talk about the ways Frida Kahlo incorporated elements of this tumultuous...
PBS
The Media and the War: The Penny Press, Walt Whitman and the War
The Mexican-American war marked a significant moment in United States history, as well as in the history of American media. The mid-nineteenth century saw the introduction of the Penny Press, which provided many American citizens with...
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Time is In
Analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health. High schoolers will identify and recognize propaganda techniques (glittering generalities, bandwagon, sex appeal, testimonial, transfer, etc.) and write a...
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Can China Kick the Habit?
Students watch a video on the problem of smoking in China. Using the Internet, they explore the cigarette marketing campaigns in the United States and on their way home identify advertisements. They discuss their findings and discuss...