Young scholars discuss and become aware of the dangers of gender stereotyping and the media's role in perpetuating gender stereotypes. They view magazine advertisements and make entries in their journals after guided discussion.

Did you know that over 70 percent of girls avoid certain activities because they feel bad about their looks? This fantastic resource includes 18 tried and true activities designed to help girls establish positive self-esteem. 

Fifth graders look at advertisements paying close attention to the people in them, then create an advertisement based on a healthy body image. For this health lesson, 5th graders analyze magazine or television advertisements for the...

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.

The stories of bodies falling to the pavement and girls dying in their seats echo to the present day. The New York City Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire—which killed 147 people, mostly young women and girls—galvanized the labor movement...

Young scholars watch a video titled Francine's Bad Hair Day about a girl who can't get her look right on picture day. In this body image lesson plan, students discuss the role of the media on body image and what people "should" look like.

Learners access prior knowledge of vocabulary on feminism and psychoanalytic theory, and gender schema.  In this Empowered Barbie instructional activity, students recreate a Barbie doll.  Learners write a reflection on how they...

Students discuss body image as it relates to making decisions about sex and intimate relationships. Working in gender separated groups, students discuss how body image can affect a persons decision to be in a relationship and have...

Don't be chicken to try a lesson plan that compares the anatomy of birds to humans. Read the background information so you don't have to wing it when it comes to the anatomy of a chicken. Prepare cooked chicken bones by soaking them in a...

Students look at the varied ways the human body is portrayed in contemporary media. They discuss what a character is and how it plays a role in telling stories. Students look at examples of objects like dolls, puppets and toys that...

Got milk? Or almonds, sardines, or tofu? Calcium is important throughout life, but especially so for developing bodies. If teens do not consume enough calcium while they are growing, they are at a much higher risk of osteoporosis and...

Students view photos of astronauts sleeping, eating, bathing, and using the toilet, and discuss hygiene problems in a zero-gravity environment. They contrast hygiene habits in space to those on Earth, and create storybooks illustrating...

Students examine where one develops his or her views about health and ways in which teen-agers exhibit these influences, focusing particularly on the rising trend of anabolic steroid use in teen-age girls.

Middle schoolers examine the life of a teenager from their own perspective and an adult's. In groups, they focus on the biological changes and how they are different in a girl and a boy. Individually, they write a paper about these...

Students practice media awareness. In this media awareness activity, students analyze print and electronic media messages. Students discover how advertisers use re-imaging to manipulate photographs and discuss how they can become...

Sixth graders study the concept of dysfuctional eating including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, fad dieting, and having an unbalanced diet. They watch and discuss videos about eating disorders and then they...

Students analyze social activism messages in music. In this feminism lesson, students explore selected music that expresses sentiments voiced in the women liberation movement in the United States. Students compare the lyrics of the songs...

Students become aware of the importance of distinguishing between inner and outer beauty. They explore how the media's opinion of beauty is biased and should be evaluated rather than just accepted. Each student also assesses how the...

Sixth graders write a 1.5 page paper explaining how to make their favorite nutritional snack. They need to assume that the audience has never seen or heard of the snack before.

Students participate in activities to develop life skills related to gender equity.  In this gender equity activity, students examine the roles of people using hats. Students will role play various occupations related to the hats....

Students compare and contrast two fundamentally different treatments of women, one Chinese and one Japanese, and to examine how this reflects on the culture that produced them.

Girlworks is a Canadian magazine targeting teenage girls. Its aim is to present real life issues that concern teen girls and to foster self-esteem. Topics cover everything from fashion and trends to body image and depression.

The time period of adolescence for girls is covered in this paper with topics such as self concept, self-image, and body image.