Media literacy key concepts Lesson 2: Media are constructions Lesson Plan

Level: Grade 4-6

Author: MediaSmarts has partnered with Concerned Children’s Advertisers to develop a suite of videos on each of the media literacy key concepts.

Duration: 45-90 minutes

Overview

In this lesson, students watch a video introducing the media literacy key concept that media are constructions. They then explore this concept by considering a pair of cereal boxes and identifying the different elements of the box and the purposes they serve. In an optional final task, students pick a target audience and create their own cereal box to appeal to that audience.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• understand the key concept that media are constructions
• identify the constructed nature and parts of a media product
• identify the possible purposes of a media creator in making a media product
• apply their understanding of the constructed nature of media by creating a cereal box designed for a specific audience

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.