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  • Grades 6-8
  • Visual Arts
  • Media Arts
  • English & Literature

Media Awareness I: The Basics of Advertising
How are consumers influenced by media marketing?

In this 6-8 lesson, students will examine the influence of advertising from past and present-day products. Students apply design principles to illustrate a product with background and foreground. This is the first lesson designed to accompany the media awareness unit.

 

 

Lesson Content

Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

  • Analyze print, video, and audio advertisements. 
  • Evaluate the influence that advertising exerts on people through the media.
  • Interpret the purpose of advertising and what the term “target audience” means.
  • Discuss interpretations and inferences from product or service advertisements.
  • Use principles of art and design to create an advertisement of their own. 
  • Demonstrate an illustration with background and foreground.

 

Standards Alignment

Recommended Student Materials

Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.

 

Teacher Background

Teachers should use age-appropriate advertisements and products. Bring a collection of sample products for students to observe. Visit and review before teaching the lesson. Preview the other two lessons in the unit, Media Awareness II: Key Concepts in Advertising and Media Awareness III: Helping a Product Cross the Finish Line

 

Student Prerequisites 

Students should have a basic understanding of advertising and their favorite products.

 

Accessibility Notes

Provide preferential seating and captions for visual presentations. Give students the option to create an audio advertisement as opposed to a visual one.

How did you use this lesson?
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  • Adaptation

    Tonya Abari

  • Editor

    JoDee Scissors

  • Updated

    November 15, 2021

Related Resources

Lesson Media Awareness II: Key Concepts in Advertising

In this 6-8 lesson, students will continue the exploration of advertising and media awareness.  Students will examine the purpose, target audience, and value of advertisements. Students will then create original, hand-drawn advertisements. This is the second lesson designed to accompany the media awareness unit.

  • Grades 6-8
  • Visual Arts
  • English & Literature

Lesson Media Awareness III: Crossing the Finish Line

In this 6-8 lesson, students will develop and market a new children’s product. They will apply advertising design strategies to market their product. This is the third lesson designed to accompany the media awareness unit. 

  • Grades 6-8
  • Visual Arts
  • English & Literature

Collection Media Arts

Audio, video, animation, photography, and technology. From Depression-era images that captured the attention of a nation, to student-produced videos on local artists, to how to make your own blood and guts special effects, explore the ever-changing world of media arts.

  • Media Arts
Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning

Eric Friedman 
Director, Digital Learning

Kenny Neal 
Manager, Digital Education Resources

Tiffany A. Bryant 
Manager, Operations and Audience Engagement

JoDee Scissors 
Content Specialist, Digital Learning

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