CMCH

Media Literacy Lesson Plan Ideas: Advertising

Have students perform a written deconstruction of an advertisement (print, television, radio, internet) of their choosing using the AD IT UP method.

Have students find an advertisement (print or television) for a product they currently use. After using the AD IT UP method, they should decide whether they support the way the product is advertised.

If they support the advertisement, they should write a praise letter to the company detailing what they appreciate about their advertising. If they do not support the advertisement, they should write a letter of concern to the company detailing their objections and suggesting alternative ways to advertise. Can they find a different company whose product advertising they agree with?

Take an article of clothing, such as jeans, and have students compare and contrast how different catalogs promote the product according to the audience they’re marketing to. Students should use at least four catalogs, with at least one targeting teens.

Assign students to watch television for a half hour, during which they will record what products are advertised. After sorting them into categories (beauty products, vehicles, food, etc), they should construct pie charts showing the number of ads in each category compared to the total number of ads, or bar graphs comparing categories. Students may want to record the television show in case they need to rewind or review anything to get accurate information; alternately this could be done as a group in the classroom, all watching the same showing and counting together. This lesson could also be done using ads in a magazine.
Assign students to bring in the packaging of their favorite video games or CDs. In a class discussion, oral presentation “show and tell” style, or reflection paper, students should explore what the packaging represents. How are characters or musicians portrayed? What about the packaging grabs their attention? What techniques are used to persuade people to buy that product?

CMCH resources for parents and teachers are made possible
by a grant from the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.