Minds On

Exploration

Companies use different strategies to get people to buy or use their products. If possible, work with a partner to explore commercials, magazine ads, radio ads, posters/flyers. Use the checklist below to help identify different strategies that are used in the advertisement.

Complete the Advertising Strategies Checklist in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document to help get you started.

Mother and daughter looking through a magazine at home

Advertising Strategies Checklist

Strategy

Does a famous person claim they use the product or claim that the product is good?
Uses a catchy slogan
Uses music or a theme song
Emotions (Does the ad make you feel happy, sad, think of something special?)
Cute character or mascot (e.g. the toucan bird used to represent the Froot Loops cereal)
Is the advertisement selling a lifestyle? (e.g. You will be healthier if you use this product.)
Advertising strategies checklist

Press the Activity button to access the Advertising Strategies Checklist.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Student Success

Think-Pair-Share

  • How did the advertisement catch your attention?
  • What kinds of techniques does the advertisement use (pictures, sounds, words, etc.)?

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Action

Exploring ads

Companies think about who they want to buy their product and use different techniques to create their advertisement.

Some techniques include:

  • colourful images
  • short phrases or slogans
  • rhyming words
  • music
  • bold and interesting text

Select two advertisements that are selling a similar product. For example, two types of cereal or two types of toys. Record the techniques that you notice in each advertisement.

You may record your ideas using a notebook, an audio clip, or another method of your choice.

Brainstorm

Brainstorm

What is similar and different about the ads?

Which advertisement catches your attention more? How?

What kind of message is the advertisement sharing?

Consolidation

Impacts of advertising

Examine the following poster.

What kinds of techniques do you notice?

For example:

  • colourful images
  • short phrases or slogans
  • rhyming words
  • music
  • bold and interesting text

What kind of message is the advertisement sharing? Record your ideas using a method of your choice.

Summer Camp poster; Make new friends! Summer camp. Have a great weekend! August 10-12. See you there!

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity?  Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.