Who's making your mind-up?
(Based on information from www.ibuydifferent.org)
Summary information:
Age range:
8 – 13
Curriculum links:
Literacy
Time needed:
60 minutes
Group size:
Whole class; small groups
Setting:
Classroom or similar space
Key vocabulary:
Peer pressure, persuasion, (dis)satisfaction, fair-trade, organic, ethical
Sustainable learning outcomes:
Pupils will:
- understand some of the pressures that promote non-sustainable consumption;
- understand the links between economics and consumption.
Method:
Brainstorm technique
Preparation:
Ask the pupils to collect examples of advertising. They could record adverts found on TV or radio and make brief notes about adverts seen on hoardings or at the cinema.
Resources needed:
Post-it notes, examples of advertisements from TV, radio or printed media, Resource Sheet 3.
Procedure:
- With the whole class, brainstorm a list of products that are known through advertisements. Ask pupils to record their ideas on a post-it notes. Display a line marked 'Must have' at one end and 'Don't really need' at the other.
- Invite the pupils to stick their post-its on the place that best reflects their attitude to the product. Discuss the reasons behind these choices.
- Divide the class into groups and give each access to examples of advertisements and copies of Resource Sheet 3. Ask them to analyse each advertisement, using these questions:
Why would someone buy this product?
What tricks (techniques) are being used to sell it? - Invite groups to report back to the whole class. Hold a discussion using these questions:
Do friends and family members help to reinforce the messages of advertisers or do they provide an alternative viewpoint? How?
How could advertising be used as part of a strategy aimed at reducing consumption?
Extension:
- Compile a guide to the 'Celebrity Champions of Sustainable Consumption' – famous people who refuse to endorse products, or who lend their name to promote campaigns linked to sustainable consumption. You might include quotes or song lyrics.
- Repeat the activity using the line marked ‘Must have’ and ‘Don’t realy need’. Ask pupils to place post-its marked with some of the following words; time, fun, love, health, justice, confidence, patience, understanding, peace, nature, friends, family, space, challenge, air, water, fulfillment, praise, knowledge, skills, contentment...
- Keep a written record of some of the adverts you see. Reflect on the messages they're giving. Do these sorts of messages help to make people feel happy or do they create more discontentment?
Evaluation:
Ask pupils to make a journal entry:
From this activity I have learned ...
It has made me feel ...
I need to find out ...