The impact of advertising
Objective:
Learners will understand how advertising influences consumer behavior, particularly in children. The goal is to develop a critical awareness of advertising strategies and learn how to make informed decisions about advertised products.
Content and Methods:
The worksheet introduces advertising and its influence, focusing on common tricks used to attract children. It includes watching an advertising video and an interview, followed by comprehension questions. Learners will also determine the truthfulness of statements about advertising's impact. The worksheet concludes with a review and discussion on protecting oneself from advertising influence. Methods include video analysis, text comprehension, true/false questions, and discussion.
Competencies:
- Identify common advertising techniques and their purpose.
- Analyze how advertisements influence desires and decisions.
- Evaluate information presented in advertisements critically.
- Develop strategies for making smart choices regarding advertised products.
Target Audience and Level:
Grade 4 and above
53 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
Grade 4 and above
Subjects
The impact of advertising
Advertising
On TV and your phone, you often see commercials. These show great products for kids and you've probably wanted something you saw advertised many times. But how can advertising actually make us want to buy things? You'll find that out in this worksheet.
Watch an advertising video
Watch the following video and consider:
- What is being advertised here?
- Why is the advertisement fun to watch?
- Do you know other ad videos that are similar?
How does advertising influence us?
Advertising is everywhere! It wants to sell us things. Especially for kids, there are many tricks to make products exciting. Here are some of them:
- Bright colors: They make the advertisement cheerful and grab our attention.
- Funny characters: Animals or heroes we like make the product more interesting.
- Cool music: Great songs stick in our heads and make us want to buy the product.
- Promises: Ads often say you'll have more fun or be more popular with the product.
- Fast cuts: Many images shown one after another make the ad exciting.
Pay close attention and don't let yourselves be easily tricked!
The interview
Now read an interview with an advertising psychologist and then answer the associated questions.
Mr. Hauser: Hello, Dr. Stratmann! Can you tell us how ads work on kids?
Dr. Stratmann: Hi, Mr. Hauser! Yes, ads use bright colors, fun music, and cartoon characters to catch kids' eyes. They make things look exciting and cool.
Mr. Hauser: Are these tricks dangerous for kids?
Dr. Stratmann: They can be. Ads might make kids want things they don't need. Sometimes, they think buying toys or snacks will make them happy. But it’s not always true.
Mr. Hauser: What can parents do to help their kids?
Dr. Stratmann: Parents can teach kids about ads. They can explain that ads want us to buy things. It’s good to talk about what we really need and what is just fun to have.
Mr. Hauser: How can kids protect themselves from ads?
Dr. Stratmann: Kids can learn to ask questions. Does the toy in the ad look the same in real life? Do they really need it? Thinking about these questions can help.
Mr. Hauser: Thank you, Dr. Stratmann! This is helpful for our young readers.
Dr. Stratmann: You’re welcome, Mr. Hauser! It’s important for kids to know how ads work. It helps them make smart choices.
Determine whether the given statements are true or false.
Review
Think back to everything you have learned in this worksheet and discuss with the rest of the class:
- Can you think of any other ways to protect yourselves from the influence of advertising?
- What should you do if an ad pops up in a game on your phone?
- What should you remember if you really like a product from an advertisement?