The Price of Happiness Lesson Plan

Body Image
Gender Representation
Marketing & Consumerism

Level(s): Grades 8 to 12

Author: This lesson has been adapted, with permission, from Living in a Material World: Lessons on Commercialism, Consumption, and Environment, © the Center for the Study of Commercialism, Washington, D.C; an 8-lesson curriculum to help young people gain perspective on commercialism and consumerism in today's society.

Consumer Awareness icon from the digital media literacy framework.media health icon from the digital media literacy frameworkmedia representation

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

In this lesson students answer a brief questionnaire related to self-image, self-esteem, and advertising, and then work as groups to create and act in mock television commercials that parody advertising techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Big ideas/key concepts: Students will learn the understand that...

  • Media have commercial considerations: Most media products are created to earn money in some way
  • Media have social and political implications: Media works can influence how we see ourselves and our place in the world
  • Each medium has a unique aesthetic form: Advertising follows standard forms and conventions that are designed to appeal to consumers

Key questions:

  • How does advertising convince us of the need for a product?
  • How does advertising influence how we see ourselves?

Frequent misconceptions to correct: Advertising is about making you aware of a product; ads always make a clear and direct argument for why you should buy a product

Essential knowledge: Students will learn...

  • Media representation: How advertising influences our views of gender 
  • Community engagement: How we can challenge advertising messages
  • Consumer awareness: How advertising creates problems and then sells solutions
  • Media health: How advertising influences our self-image

Performance tasks: Students will use media tools to demonstrate their understanding of advertising, and engage critically with its impact on self-image

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

Lesson Kit