Media - Day 3 grades 4-6 learning activities

These activities will help youth build a positive view of themselves and recognize their strengths while thinking about media. They can be done alone or with friends over a video chat such as Skype, Zoom, Facetime, etc.

Mindfulness Activity

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Trivia question: I have keys but no doors. I have space but no rooms, I allow you to enter but you are never able to leave. What am I?

Mindfulness Activity:

  • Walk around the room.
  • Now walk slowly.
  • Now walk normally.
  • Now, walk VERY slowly.
  • Walk normally again.
  • Now, walk slowly.
  • How does it feel?
  • Which energy level is your favorite?
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Positive Spin

Supplies:

  • paper
  • markers
  • pencils
  • colours
  • crayons

An advertisement, or ad, is a type of notice or announcement that is meant to promote a product, service or event.

For this activity, have your child create a positive advertisement to be shared with neighbours, friends or family. The goal is to create positive feelings in others.

  • Think about something that is good for you, like exercise, sleep or vegetables. Then, create a poster to advertise that idea.
  • When you are done, put your poster in a window or on a balcony so others can see it and be inspired.
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Marble Paper

Supplies:

  • paint
  • white shaving cream
  • straw
  • card stock or thick paper
  • cookie sheet
  • flat popsicle stick or cardboard
Instructions:
  • Have your child to spray enough shaving cream to cover a cookie sheet.
  • Take 3-4 colors of paint and put drops all over.
  • Take a straw and make swirl designs, making sure there is still white showing.
  • Place a piece of paper on top of the shaving cream and press it down so all of it touches.
  • Carefully lift up one corner and set aside. Wait 2-3 minutes then use something flat like a popsicle stick or the edge of a piece of cardboard and scrape off all the shaving cream.
  • Let it dry completely. Use a Sharpie or black marker to write a positive message on your work of art.
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Honest Ads

Supplies:

  • ads from magazines
  • music videos
  • favourite celebrity selfie
  • a celebrity tweet
  • a video game character

The best way to respond to confusing or harmful advertisements is to change the way we respond to them and challenge them. This means taking apart the messages we receive and acting to change what messages and images we absorb.

Find 3-5 ads (online or in magazines) that will be interesting to your child. They could even be tweets from celebrities, or video game characters. Talk about the following questions:

  • What is being sold?
  • Who are they using to sell it?
  • What does the ad promise?
  • What feelings does the ad bring up?
  • What actions do you think people take after seeing this ad?
  • What messages is the media conveying about self-image?

Next, have your child choose one of the ads and create a more honest version of that it. They can change an image from a magazine or use a blank piece of paper, a pencil and markers to recreate something online.

Review Questions

Ask your child:

  • How does it feel to be advertised to?
  • Can you think of anything that has been advertised to you lately?
  • How can you control the way you react to advertisements?
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Trivia Answer

Answer: A keyboard.

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