Lesson Overview:
In this final lesson of the Media Awareness curriculum unit, students will complete their advertisements, adding in details (such as color and symbols)and background/foreground space on the picture plane. Students will share their advertisements with the class. As a culminating activity, students will be grouped into "development" and "marketing" departments of an imaginary company, creating a new kids product and a marketing strategy for it.
Length of Lesson:
One 45-minute class period
Notes:
This lesson is particularly suitable for grades 5-6.
Instructional Objectives:
Students will:
- use critical thinking skills to further develop their understanding of advertising concepts.
- use elements and principles of art to create an advertisement of their own.
- work collaboratively in groups to develop and assess a creative development and marketing project.
Supplies:
- Pencils
- Colored pencils and markers
- 18" x 11" newsprint paper
Instructional Plan:
Have students complete their advertisements. They should include color, details such as symbols and text, and background/foreground space on the picture plane. Ask students to consider who their audience is - the audience can be realistic, or playful and imaginative. Students should also give consideration to what parts of their ad they would like noticed most (i.e., price, place of purchase, purpose of the toy, etc.). The finished ads are then shared with the class.
Explain to students that they must imagine that they are all part of a kids-oriented manufacturing company. Divide the class in half, telling one half that they are the "development" department and the other half that they are the "marketing" department. Explain the roles of development and marketing. It is the responsibility of the development department to brainstorm a new product for kids. Once the development department has created the product, the marketing department must develops ways to advertise and market the toy. The marketing department must also devise strategies for product placement and targeting the right audience. Have the marketing group use the following article,
Common Advertising Strategies to assist their discussion and strategies.
Allow students the entire period, and possibly the next class, to complete the entire scenario. Then, have students come together for a critique of the project, assessing its potential for success, etc.
Assessment:
Use the Assessment Rubric to evaluate students learning.
Authors:
-
Helen Robertson
Hawthorne Elementary School, University of British Columbia
, British Columbia Canada
