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
Ford's Revolution
Industrialization and mechanization of products such as cars have deeply affected the US economy. The class discusses the affects of Ford's assembly line production of automobiles. They watch a video, fill out worksheets, and investigate...
Museum of the Moving Image
Developing Critical Analysis
To gain an understanding of how images and sounds are used to influence viewers, class members analyze these features in Presidential campaign commercials from 1952-2012.
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What Does Advertising Say About Smoking?
Students examine tobacco advertisements. In this smoking advertisements lesson, students read old magazine or newspaper ads to determine their purpose and influence. Students also discuss how to make responsible health decisions and...
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Influence of Music On Our Lives: How Does Music Influence our Actions?
Eighth graders research how music influences our actions. They form an educated opinion of how music can influence our actions. Students create a computer generated presentation to outline the research methods used to form their answer....
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Persuasive Language
Students read a persuasive story study persuasive language. They then write a 50-word online advertisement for a target audience to try and sell an unusual item to a targeted audience.
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Eye of the Icon
Pupils examine various examples of artwork and identify icons. In groups, they discuss the role of special interest groups and media in promoting icons in society. They create a bust of an icon in the Victorian style and share them...
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Tobacco: Promotion Tactics and the Law
Youths aged 13 & 14 are most likely to notice and remember in-store tobacco promotions. Class members dissect tobacco advertising tactics and learn about relevant legislation by participating in guided discussion. Assessing...
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Great Monuments of the World
Students explore the wonders of the world through inquiry. In this world monuments lesson, students investigate famous landmarks around the world as they conduct and apply research. Students create products that feature their findings...
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Agriculture, Weather, Economy and Indiana
Fourth graders, in groups, investigate the role of weather in Indiana's farming economy. They make a prediction as to weather and its effect on the economy of Indiana. They present their data using a media presentation of data...
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The Power of Persuasion
Young scholars explore the power of persuasion. In a classroom setting, students discuss incentives, testimonials and deceptive pricing schemes that are used to influence others. After observing professionally made infomercials, young...
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A Very Short History of the English Language
Students apply their knowledge of world history to research major influences on the language that has become the English we speak today; develop timeline of events in Britain and explain contributions of various invading groups to the...
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Dollars for Darfur
Students send emails to famous people, politicians, and local media services in an effort to inform others of the current situation in Darfur. This includes internet research and a video example of the lesson.
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Northern Neighbors
Fourth graders research a province in Canada in order to compare and contrast Canada to our country. They create a HyperStudio production to display their findings.
Rice University
Principles of Microeconomics for AP® Courses 2e
An informational textbook covers key principles related to microeconomics, such as consumer behavior and using models to understand economic issues. Young scholars also complete self-check questions at the end of each section to check...
Special Olympics
SO…What’s the Challenge?
Whose responsibility is it to protect equal rights? Class members engage in a series of activities that create awareness of the prejudice and intolerance persons with disabilities face. They then create a message addressed to their...
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Art: Faith Ringgold Story Quilts
Twelfth graders examine the impact of African American culture on the United States by inspecting Faith Ringgold's story quilts. Working in groups, they create a collective story quilt about current cultural issues. They research their...
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A Healthy Body Image
Fifth graders discuss what is meant by body image. In groups, they view a variety of magazine advertisements and identify how it encourages them to buy a specific product. To end the lesson, they group the people in the ads as either...
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The Life and Times of....
Students assume the role of an investigative reporter and research an artist and the world in which they worked. They create a 2-page newspaper using MS Publisher about the artist and the time period he/she lived in.
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A Lesson To Accompany "The First Bank of the United States: A Chapter in the History of Central Banking"
Here is an interesting topic. Learners examine the economics that led to the founding of the First Bank of America. They participate in a reader's theater experience depicting the debate between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson...
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Faking It
Middle school earth scientists describe the behavior of the Coriolis force. They compare and contrast conditions under which the Coriolis force has a significant impact with conditions under which it has very little. They model the...
NOAA
What's the Difference?
Due to the isolation of seamounts, their biodiversity offers a great deal of information on the development of biological and physical processes. Pupils use simple cluster analysis to rate the similarity and differences in biological...
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Stamps of Approval for Women Journalists
Students research, explore and analyze the history of how American women journalists have influenced major social change in the nation and the world. They visit major institution's to examine the written legacies of Abigail Adams,...
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Canada and the United States: A Collage
Students create a visual presentation that describes the influence of American culture on Canadian culture, the Canadian response to that influence, and the benefits and drawbacks of that influence to Canadian culture.