Advertising+Module

(New Module)

In the US, children see advertisements every day. According to data on [|this website], American children watch about 20,000 advertisements a year. It is important for them to learn the truth behind advertising for several reasons: first, they may guilt their parents into buying things for them based on ads they saw on TV or in kids' magazines; and secondly, because they will grow up to be tomorrow's consumers. Learning how to figure out the truth behind an ad's claims will lead to more media literacy. Also, in general, it is a good habit to question everything told or read. 
 * Ideas**
 * [|PBS Kids site]
 * [|Story of Stuff]
 * Have kids break into groups and design a new product (doesn't have to be totally new) and design an ad for their product


 * Supplies**
 * computer
 * projector
 * Large poster-size paper
 * Markers
 * Maybe other drawing/decorating materials (like glitter)


 * Workshop**

First, we'd start by watching The Story of Stuff. This film is a great introduction to consumerism in general. We'd discuss questions like "Why do we feel like we need to buy stuff?" and "Do you think that we can keep living the lifestyle we're living forever?" Then, we'd discuss advertising, using the PBS Kids "Don't Buy It" site as an interactive way to discuss how ads are used and the truth behind advertisements. The workshop participants would help decide the answers to the various questions posed on the PBS site. The site would be explored for about ten minutes (assuming a one hour time frame), and then the children would get to create their own ads for an imaginary product on large paper. During the last five minutes or so of the workshop, the participants would present their ads. We would discuss the tricks they used and how those compare to the tricks corporations use in their ad campaigns.

(Note: while this workshop could be kept on a tight schedule and be only an hour long, it would probably be better in an hour-and-a-half time frame.)