Spot the Technique: Media Literacy and Propaganda

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Social Studies · Government and Civics
SP-GOV-010  ·  Free to print and use in your classroom  ·  substituteplans.com
Page 2
Spot the Technique: Media Literacy and
Propaganda
Social Studies · Government and Civics · Grades 8-12 · 45 minutes
Time needed
45 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student).
Technology
None.
Student
independence
High. Students work alone, then compare with a partner.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet
Goal for today: Students will identify common persuasion and propaganda techniques in made-up messages and
apply questions for evaluating a source.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ On the board, write: Propaganda = messages designed to persuade by appealing to feelings more than facts.
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk. All ads in the lesson are made up and have no real brands.
Say this to start
Good morning! We see hundreds of messages each day, and many are trying to persuade us. Today you will learn
eight common techniques, spot them in made-up ads, and practice asking good questions about any source. You do
not need any background. Everything you need is on the worksheet.
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance. Hand out the worksheet. Read the board
definition aloud and ask for one example of an ad students
remember.
Settle in and share one example.
5–13
Tell students to read the passage silently and underline the
name of each technique.
Read the passage and underline the
techniques.
13–25
Tell students to complete the matching section (questions
1–8). Walk the room.
Match each made-up message to its
technique.
25–35
Tell students to answer questions 9–10 and fill in the
source-check table.
Answer questions and complete the table.
35–42
Tell students to complete questions 11 and 12. Partners
may share ads quietly.
Write their own ad and a list of source
questions.
42–45
Read answers 1–10 aloud from the key. Collect worksheets
and stack them for the teacher.
Check answers and hand in the worksheet.


SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Government and Civics
SP-GOV-010  ·  Free to print and use in your classroom  ·  substituteplans.com
Page 3
If things go wrong
• If students ask about real ads or politicians, remind them the ads here are made up. Today is about spotting
techniques, not about judging any real group.
• If a student thinks one ad could fit two techniques, agree and ask them to pick the one that fits best.
• If students finish early, use the early finisher list.
• If the room is noisy, make the matching section silent.
Early finishers
• Rewrite one of the made-up ads so it gives only facts and no persuasion technique.
• Think of a time you were persuaded by a message. Which technique was used?
Support and challenge
• Support: Let students match the first four messages, then use the passage for the rest.
• Challenge: Ask students to write two ads for the same made-up product using two different techniques.
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: