The Trapped Librarian

Make your library the center of your school

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Book Love
    • Bulletin Boards and Displays
    • FUN!
    • Helpful Hints
    • Library Advocacy
    • Life
    • Organize It!
    • School Library
    • Technology
    • TPT
  • Shop
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
You are here: Home / School Library / Make the Most of the Super Bowl Excitement with Fun and Engaging Media Literacy Lessons!

January 19, 2020 by: Laura

Make the Most of the Super Bowl Excitement with Fun and Engaging Media Literacy Lessons!

Last Updated on January 24, 2021 by Laura

As we get closer to the Super Bowl, more and more students are discussing football and their favorite teams. They come to school on Mondays talking about what happened at the latest playoff games. Excitement builds with each passing week. This is the perfect time to hook students with a great lesson focusing on media literacy skills. I’ve got a fun and engaging lesson using Super Bowl commercials that creates quite the buzz in my library!

Set the Stage

We create a book display in the library with football and Super Bowl books. I like to point out the sports section (796) for our Dewey of the Day. And for our attendance question, I like to ask “What is your favorite football team?” Our Primary Source of the Week features a photograph of a football game from sometime between 1905 and 1945. The week before the Super Bowl, I ask “Who do you want to win the Super Bowl?” or “Who do you predict will win the Super Bowl?”

Lay a Foundation

The lessons I created take 2-3 class periods in my library. Our class sessions are 30 minutes, once a week, so I start around the second week of January. I use these lessons with my fourth and fifth grade classes. For the first class session, I tell the students that companies are working on their advertisements for the upcoming Super Bowl. I have a “Be Ad Wise” slideshow that I use to guide our first discussion. We talk about the purpose of advertising (to get us to spend our money), and why it is worthwhile for companies to spend big money on commercials that air during large events like the Super Bowl.

One of the best tips to pass on to students are the following four questions to consider when viewing a commercial, or any type of advertisement:

  • Who made the ad?
  • What message are they communicating?
  • What do they want me to do?
  • How are they trying to convince me?

Understanding Advertising Techniques

The slide show I use covers 5 common techniques used in television commercials:

  • Involvement
  • Humor
  • Association
  • Brand Recognition
  • Emotion

I’ve chosen a commercial from past Super Bowl games to represent each advertising technique to show as a sample. This usually generates a lively discussion with students making connections to other ads that use the same techniques! I have students take notes on each technique so they can use them for an activity the next class session.

Learning in Action!

During the next class session, students work with partners. They watch a commercial from last year’s Super Bowl and decide which technique (or techniques) are the strongest in the ad. I tell them that there several correct answers for each advertisement. As long as they can justify their answer, it is correct! You can find Super Bowl commercials at the following website: https://superbowl-ads.com/ I don’t turn the kids loose on this site, however, since some commercials feature alcohol and other subject matter not suitable for elementary aged children.

I created an answer sheet and have the kids work in pairs so they will have conversations about the techniques. I love the discussion this activity generates! Here are some comments I overheard during the last class session:

  • I love that!
  • Okay, that’s Emotion.
  • The Microsoft commercial is really emotional.
  • That’s probably Brand Recognition – they did show the brand at the end.
  • I love that!
  • That’s my favorite!
  • That’s O’Dell!

At Home Challenge

I like to give my students an activity that they can do with their families during the Super Bowl. I give them a page with the five advertising techniques to take home. On the reverse side, I ask them to list a commercial for each technique. Parents and students enjoy doing this activity together, and it generates some lively discussion at home. Students who return the At Home Challenge are entered in a drawing for a prize from the library!

Important Life Skill

Media and its influence on us has changed dramatically over the last decade. Some would argue that its influence is getting stronger. Young or old, we are all targeted by advertisements in many areas of our lives – websites, video games, billboards, email, social media… It’s extremely important that we help our students learn at a young age to think critically about advertisements so they can make informed decisions regarding their spending and behaviors. Media literacy lessons are more critical than ever before!

You Can Do It!

You can create a similar lesson using commercials you find at the Super Bowl Ads website! I guarantee your students will enjoy analyzing these commercials as they talk about advertising techniques. You can also find more information on advertising and its effect on children at the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood website. To help you get started, I’ve got a free resource for you: 5 Advertising Techniques. This one page pdf shows the 5 techniques I use in these activities along with descriptions for each.

If you don’t have time to create your own lesson, I’ve got everything you need in my unit: Media Literacy: Advertising Techniques. This engaging media literacy unit includes:

  • A slide presentation defining 5 advertising techniques with links to video examples
  • Student activity pages for school and an “At Home Challenge”
  • Link to a website with 8 videos to analyze for advertising techniques
  • Additional page of links to 8 videos from 2019
  • Teacher preparation tips, lesson plans, and extension ideas

Click the image below to take a look at the preview!

Media literacy Advertising Techniques

What kinds of media literacy lessons do you use in your elementary library or classroom? Share your ideas with us below!

Be the light! ~

  • Spice Up Your Library Catalog Instruction!
    You’ve Been Shamrocked!

    Comments

    1. Anastasia Hanneken says

      January 26, 2020 at 11:02 AM

      Thank you for all your wonderful ideas! I started a k-4 position in January and your ideas have been so helpful! I hope to use many of them in the future.

      • Laura says

        January 27, 2020 at 4:38 PM

        Hi Anastasia! Thank you for stopping by. I’m glad you’ve found some useful ideas. Best wishes in your new position!

    2. Laurie Latimer says

      January 28, 2020 at 4:27 PM

      I can’t wait to try this idea out with my 4th and 5th graders. I’m excited to see if students will involve their parents with this activity during the super bowl. Thanks for the useful ideas!

      • Laura says

        January 28, 2020 at 5:28 PM

        Hi Laurie! It’s my hope that students will discuss these ideas with their parents! I am sending home the “At Home Challenge” with interested students and will do a drawing from the returned pages for a free book from our Book Fair. Since the Book Fair starts Monday, it’s perfect timing!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Past Posts

    Categories

    Find it Fast

    Book Love Bulletin Boards and Displays Classroom Management Collaboration Distance Learning Freebies FUN! Helpful Hints Inspiration Library Advocacy Library Decor Library Events Life Organize It! Professional Development Remote Learning Research School Library Seasonal Technology Tech Tips Test Prep TPT Uncategorized

    TPT Shop

    Facebook

    Pinterest

    Instagram

    thetrappedlibrarian

    📚 Elementary School Librarian
    🌟 NBCT 2011
    👩🏻‍🏫 Teacher Author
    Blog: trappedlibrarian.org

    Laura Trapp | Elementary School Librarian
    Still in school?? ☀️ Grab these fun Summer Bo Still in school?? 
☀️
Grab these fun Summer Bookmarks to send home with your students!

⭐️ 12 jokes
⭐️ 8 greetings

Full color and black & white options included - great for early finishers or a coloring center!

#elementaryschoollibrarian #elementarylibrarian #elementarylibrary #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #iteachelementary
    𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗢!!⁣ ⁣ 🌟 This fun Summer 𝗕𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗢!!⁣
⁣
🌟 This fun Summer BINGO challenge is included in my Summer Reading Bulletin Board Activity Kit.⁣
⁣
🤩 Grab it and promote summer reading in your classes next week!⁣
⁣
➡ Link in SmartBio @thetrappedlibrarian⁣
⁣
#summerreading #elementarylibrary #schoollibrarian #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram⁣
#tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    Did you know that I’ve got a bundle of library r Did you know that I’ve got a bundle of library resources that can carry you through the entire school year?!
 
✅ Make your life easier!
✅ Take back your nights and weekends!
⭐️ Make your library the center of your school! 

➡️ Take a closer look at the Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibrarian 

#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram #tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    ⭐ New Blog Post!! ⭐⁣ ⁣ ☀😎 It's that t ⭐ New Blog Post!! ⭐⁣
⁣
☀😎 It's that time of year when we promote Summer Reading in our libraries!⁣
⁣
✅ Grab some tips & ideas at the Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibrarian⁣
⁣
#summerreading #summerreadingchallenge⁣
#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram⁣
#tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    Grab this FREE Library Lessons Guide and get one s Grab this FREE Library Lessons Guide and get one step ahead of next school year.

Download it at the Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibrarian today!

#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram #tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    📚 Do your library books get lonely sitting on t 📚 Do your library books get lonely sitting on the shelves during the summer break?⁣⁣⁣
⁣
😃 Why not let your students check out a few to read while school's out?⁣⁣⁣
⁣
✅ This Summer Book Checkout Contract is part of my new Summer Reading Kit. ⁣⁣⁣
⁣
➡ Grab it at the Smart.bio link @thetrappedlibrarian⁣⁣⁣
⁣
#summerreading #schoollibrary #elementarylibrary #summerslide⁣
#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram⁣
#tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    ⭐️ A lesson I learned a long time ago from a g ⭐️ A lesson I learned a long time ago from a good friend… 
🚫 As a specialist, DON’T try to teach new content in May!!

Schedules are constantly changing with end of the year assemblies, field trips, parties…

What to do instead?
⭐️ Review activities - library catalog, search and location, genre, trips down “memory lane”…
⭐️ Promote Summer Reading – If your school  library won’t be open, partner with your public library to keep your students reading and prevent the summer slide!
⭐️ Have fun – Make your activities fun and engaging so the good vibes carry them through to next school year!

➡️ If you’re scrambling for an end of the year activity, check the blog post in my Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibrarian!

#elementarylibrarian #elementarylibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #maylessons
    It sure can be tough to keep students engaged at t It sure can be tough to keep students engaged at this time of year, especially while you're trying to juggle all the responsibilities of closing down the library for the year!⁣
⁣
𝗜'𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 3 𝗡𝗢 𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗣 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘂𝘁!⁣
1️⃣ Find these eBooks in your free educator account on Epic!✅ How to Catch a Mermaid⁣
✅ How to Catch a Dragon⁣
✅ Too Much Glue⁣
⁣
2️⃣ Grab a set of Boom Cards to go with one of the books.⁣
⁣
3️⃣ Your students will have some practice with vocabulary, rhyming words, comprehension, and rating & reviewing a book.⁣
⁣
✅ No paper⁣
✅ No prep⁣
✅ Immediate feedback to keep the learning going!⁣
⁣
Take a look at all of my Boom cards in the Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibrarian⁣
⁣
#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram⁣
#tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    🌸 Don’t miss the May Elementary Library Newsl 🌸 Don’t miss the May Elementary Library Newsletter! 🌸

✅ May Freebies
✅ May Lesson Ideas
✅ May Library Tips
✅ May Book Recommendations

⭐️💜All from 5 veteran school librarians who want YOU to have a fantastic month!

Click the Smart.Bio link @thetrappedlibraian to read the newsletter today!

#elementarylibrary #elementarylibrarian #schoollibrary #schoollibrarian #librarymediaspecialist #thetrappedlibrarian #teacherlibrarian #schoollibraries #librariansofinstagram
#tpt #elementarylibrarians #librarylessonideas
    Load More... Follow on Instagram
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Disclosure

    © 2023 // Design by Laugh Eat Learn // Theme by Pretty Darn Cute Design