Teachers resources
From here teachers can download a wealth of resources including activity sheets, lesson plans and digital adverts.
Welcome to
the Media Smart Lessons.
Click on a lesson button on the
left to read a summary of the lesson.
| Lesson 1 |
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What is an advert?
Issues addressed
- The functions of advertising
- Identifying advertising in our environment
- The targetting and placing of ads for specific audiences
Learning outcomes
- To understand the different uses of advertising; to sell, inform, persuade
- To understand that advertising can be found outside traditional media
Activities
- Sorting example adverts into three groups according to their main purpose (provide information/persuade you to buy a product/promote a point of view)
Curriculum links
Age
8-10
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of advertising in various formats
- Printable activity sheets
| Lesson 2 |
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Spot the ad
Issues addressed
- The functions of advertising
- Identifying advertising across a range of media
- Introducing terminology for digital ads, their conventions and locations
- To identify digital media formats
Learning outcomes
- To understand the different uses of advertising; to sell, inform, persuade
- To understand that advertising can be found outside traditional media
- To understand that advertising can be found in digital media
Activities
- Identify and share experiences of adverts across a range of media
- Locate a range of different adverts on websites (banners, advergames etc)
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of digital advertising in a range of formats
- Printable activity sheets
| Lesson 3 |
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What's in a digital ad?
Issues addressed
- The composition and characteristics of simple digital ads (banner and pop-ups)
- Understanding how words, images, colour, design and interactivity are combined to create persuasive meanings
Learning outcomes
- To learn how to read images, words and interactive features in online advertising
- To identify the intended audience for an ad
- To learn specialist terminology
Activities
- Read an advert and discuss how and why images, words and interactive elements are used
- Suggest possible improvements to the design of an advert
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of banner and pop-up ads
- Printable activity sheets
| Lesson 4 |
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Branding online
(Commercial branding)
Issues addressed
- Different forms of branded website and their purposes
- How brands use social networking techniques
Learning outcomes
- Understanding how websites reinforce brand recognition and appeal
Activities
- Investigate a specific branded website
- Create a ‘human website’ complete with links
Curriculum links
- Take part in discussions (ENGLISH)
- Respond to different layers of meaning in language (ENGLISH)
- Recognise choices to be made (PSHE/CITIZENSHIP)
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Images of branded products
- Screen shots of branded websites and linked pages
- Printable work sheet
| Lesson 5 |
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Branding online
(Non-commercial branding)
Issues addressed
- Different forms of branded website and their purposes
Learning outcomes
- Understanding how websites reinforce brand recognition and appeal
Activities
- Investigate a non-commercial branded website
- Create a ‘human website’ complete with links
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Logos of non-commercial brands
- Screen shots of branded non-commercial websites and linked pages
- Printable work sheet
| Lesson 6 |
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Targeting the audience
Issues addressed
- How digital ads are aimed at different audiences – including children
- The range of techniques used in digital ads
Learning outcomes
- To recognise that different digital ads are directed at different target audiences
- Understanding of why advertisers use different techniques
Activities
- Discuss techniques used in favourite ads
- Create ads for milk from materials provided (format, audience, image, slogan, copy)
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of digital ads
- Chart listing ad, audience, techniques used, why ad appeals
- Printable cards with different formats, audiences, images, slogans
| Lesson 7 |
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Selling Ideas Part 1
(Looking at animals in ads)
Issues addressed
- How digital advertising uses images, words and design to convey feelings and sell ideas/products.
- Identifying strategies used in digital advertising
Learning outcomes
- Understanding how images are used in digital advertising symbolically or metaphorically in order to create emotional impact
- Understanding that the emotional impact of advertising is constructed and when successful is transferred to the featured product or brand
Activities
- Discuss ideas or feelings associated with different animals
- Fill in grid to analyse specific advertisements which include animals
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of advertisements which include animals
- Printable spray diagram
- Grid for thinking about animals
| Lesson 8 |
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Selling Ideas Part 2
(Designing an ‘animal’ banner ad )
Issues addressed
- How digital advertising uses images, words and design to convey feelings and sell ideas/products.
- Identifying strategies used in digital advertising
Learning outcomes
- Understanding how images are used in digital advertising symbolically or metaphorically in order to create emotional impact
- Understanding that the emotional impact of advertising is constructed and when successful is transferred to the featured product or brand
Activities
- Design a banner ad for trainers from materials provided (images, slogans, names and copy)
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Printable images of trainers and animals
- Printable slogans, names and copy
- Media Smart Admaker
| Lesson 9 |
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Personal data
Issues addressed
- To look at the different ways companies acquire information about users
- To consider how this information is used
- To understand how cookies work
Learning outcomes
- Understanding how data is collected and why
Activities
- Examine websites that collect personal information
- Drama activity about cookies on your computer
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Demonstrations of how personal information might be collected
- Links to websites – screen shots demonstrating key ideas from lessons
- Printable cards for drama activity
| Lesson 10 |
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How websites make money
Issues addressed
- Pupils are introduced to the economics behind profitable websites
- Safety rules are reviewed with regards to sharing personal information online
Learning outcomes
- Understanding the economics of online content and activity
Activities
- Create idea for new application for companies to collect information about users on social networking sites
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of different applications used for data mining
- Illustration of the ways sites sell ad space and information
- Links to UK government internet safety guidelines
| Lesson 11 |
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| [Notes and lesson plans] | [Power point] |
How websites make money
Issues addressed
- Pupils are introduced to the economics behind profitable websites
- Safety rules are reviewed with regards to sharing personal information online
Learning outcomes
- Understanding the economics of online content and activity
Activities
- Create idea for new application for companies to collect information about users on social networking sites
Curriculum links
Age
8-11
Resources provided
- Lesson web/white board pages
- Examples of different applications used for data mining
- Illustration of the ways sites sell ad space and information
- Links to UK government internet safety guidelines
| Resource Centre |
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Everything you need to teach advertising literacy. Resources for whiteboard, downloadable PPTs, teachers notes, worksheets and lots more!
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Go to the resource centre
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| Advert bank |
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All the ads that appear in our lessons.
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Go to the Advert bank
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| Glossary |
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A helpful list of advertising and media words.
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Go to the Glossary
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| Additional resources |
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Links to further media literacy resources and useful websites on advertising.
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Go to the Additional resources
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