Your Body Your Your Body Your Choice...ConsumeChoice...Consumer Awarenessr Awareness

By Lexi Rifaat and Ashley Clackson

Students will…Students will… Develop a broader understanding of the influences in their Develop a broader understanding of the influences in their

community.community. Learn the benefits and consequences of healthy and Learn the benefits and consequences of healthy and

unhealthy decisions.unhealthy decisions. Apply mathematical concepts to a calorie and fitness Apply mathematical concepts to a calorie and fitness

worksheet to give them a better understanding of healthy worksheet to give them a better understanding of healthy choices.choices.

Become more critical thinkers through analyzing mediaBecome more critical thinkers through analyzing media Apply their knowledge when answering questions based on Apply their knowledge when answering questions based on

their observationstheir observations Learn to work with peers to have meaningful discussions Learn to work with peers to have meaningful discussions

about the topic at hand.about the topic at hand. Incorporate all of the skills obtained through the three Incorporate all of the skills obtained through the three

lessons which will then be applied to a final projectlessons which will then be applied to a final project

DAY 1DAY 1 Nutrition and Consumer Nutrition and Consumer

AwarenessAwareness Students will be presented with a variety of Students will be presented with a variety of

video clips which advertise different foodsvideo clips which advertise different foods After the short excerpt, the teacher will After the short excerpt, the teacher will

provide students with three questions in provide students with three questions in which the they will be asked to discuss with a which the they will be asked to discuss with a partnerpartner

1.1. Based on the video clips would you say that the products advertised Based on the video clips would you say that the products advertised are healthy choicesare healthy choices

2.2. Give examples of how commercials advertise their product; what Give examples of how commercials advertise their product; what makes the product so appealing to the consumermakes the product so appealing to the consumer

3.3. Estimate how many fast food restaurants there are in the Hartford Estimate how many fast food restaurants there are in the Hartford area (urban) and compare that to the West Hartford area (suburban) area (urban) and compare that to the West Hartford area (suburban)

After children answer the questions above After children answer the questions above with their partner they will be asked to with their partner they will be asked to further discuss their findings with the classfurther discuss their findings with the class

DAY 2:DAY 2: What happens when I What happens when I

exercise?exercise? The teacher will provide the students with a brief introduction The teacher will provide the students with a brief introduction

on what calories are and why exercise is necessaryon what calories are and why exercise is necessary

Teachers will weigh studentsTeachers will weigh students

Students will be given a chart with different fitness activities. Students will be given a chart with different fitness activities. This chart will allow students to see how many calories they This chart will allow students to see how many calories they can burn through various exercises in one minutecan burn through various exercises in one minute

Students will calculate how many calories they would burn in Students will calculate how many calories they would burn in one hour (using worksheet)one hour (using worksheet)

Students will put a “X” by the boxes (fitness activities) that Students will put a “X” by the boxes (fitness activities) that would enable them to burn off 100% or more of one serving would enable them to burn off 100% or more of one serving size of their favorite snack (which they were asked to bring size of their favorite snack (which they were asked to bring into the lesson)into the lesson)

• Teacher begins by asking students to think about questions pertaining to alcohol and cigarettes

•Why do you think some kids choose to drink and smoke?•Do you think that drinking and smoking are bad for your health? Why?

•Teacher will explain that the major alcohol and cigarette companies also use persuasive methods (like food companies) that target young buyers to purchase their product•Worksheet will be handed out explaining some of the methods that the corporations use.

•Students will be shown several examples of advertisements and asked to look for some of the things mentioned on the worksheet.

Advertisement Advertisement Example #1Example #1

To have a good time you should drink beerBud light is for young people and will make you more attractive if you drink itYou’re cool if you drink (and you’ll attract that cute guy/girl whose also drinking a bud light) “Everyone is doing it”Bright colors used to attract your attention

Bud Light is trying to give you the idea that:

Advertisement Example Advertisement Example #2#2

This Camel ad promotes the ideas that: It is a “pleasure” to smoke a Camel (use of the catchy phrase)The ideal person smokes (physically fit, young, and attractive models)Smoking is a sign of independence Smoking a Camel is a good way to relax/take a break from your busy dayBright colors to attract your attention

Some other Some other examples…examples…

Lesson Continued…Lesson Continued…•After they view several advertisements they will be asked to break into partners to discuss the advertisements (using the list as a guide or their own observations)•They will also be asked to write down their answers to the following questions:

•Do these advertisements portray the real health hazards associated with alcohol and cigarette smoking?•Who are the ads geared towards?•What message is it sending to consumers?•Is the advertisement successful in making you want to buy the product? How?

•For homework students will be asked to draw an ad for a product that portrays false advertising using some of the techniques addressed in class (using catchy phrases, colors, images of the cool person, etc…) and write a paragraph explaining why it is false advertisement.

Final Project : Final Project : EvaluationEvaluation

Students will be asked to make Students will be asked to make a poster presentation a poster presentation

They will be required to collect They will be required to collect four advertisements for either four advertisements for either food, cigarettes, or alcoholfood, cigarettes, or alcohol

We will provide a variety of We will provide a variety of magazines magazines

On the poster the students will On the poster the students will post:post:– The four advertisementsThe four advertisements– A description next to each of A description next to each of

what the company is what the company is portraying/what techniques they portraying/what techniques they are using to get you to buy the are using to get you to buy the productproduct

– A description of the real health A description of the real health hazards/benefits of the product hazards/benefits of the product being advertised (by doing being advertised (by doing research)research)

• They will be given a week to finish their final project• To incorporate the community, parents/family/friends will be invited to view their oral presentations where they will explain their findings