Active learning ideas
Media Awareness in 1st Class helps children begin to navigate the complex world of screens, advertisements, and digital content. This topic falls under the NCCA SPHE strand 'Myself and the wider world,' specifically 'Media education.' Students learn to distinguish between 'real' and 'make-believe' and begin to understand that media is often created with a specific purpose, such as to sell a product.
Activity 01
Show the class a few toy advertisements. In small groups, students look for 'clues' that try to make the toy look better than it is (e.g., bright lights, exciting music, happy kids). They discuss if the toy would be as much fun without the 'extras.'
What are my favorite television programs?
Activity 02
Present a series of images (e.g., a real cat, a talking cartoon cat, a news reporter, a superhero). Students must move to one side of the room if they think it's 'real' and the other if it's 'make-believe,' then explain their reasoning.
How do advertisements try to make us buy things?
Activity 03
Children think of their favorite thing to do on a screen and one thing they love to do *without* a screen. They share with a partner and discuss why it's important to have a balance of both.
Is everything on the internet true?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
If it's on a screen, it must be true.
Young children often believe everything they see. Active 'detective' tasks help them see that media is 'constructed' and that we need to ask questions about what we see.
Advertisements are just there to tell us about new toys.
Students may not realize the persuasive intent of ads. By 'deconstructing' an ad in a collaborative investigation, they can see the tricks used to make them want to buy things.
Methods used in this brief