Minds On
Brainstorm
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
In this activity, record as many questions as you can about the following descriptions of advertisements in a format of your choice.
Description of ads:
Ad 1: A young child is playing with a set of gears, connectors, wheels and blocks. The ad reads: "The toy that can grow with a child."
Ad 2: A group of children are at a playground passing a ball around in a circle. The ad reads: "It brings people together."
Ad 3: A 7-year-old child is looking through a cooking book with a guardian and is imagining cooking their favourite food. The ad reads: “It is never too early to cook together.”
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Action
Researching popular toys
What type of toys were popular in the 1920s? The 1950s? The 1980s? Pick two decades and research toy advertisements from your chosen era. You can use popular print ads, radio, YouTube, or television commercials. A good place to start is by searching “award-winning toys” print or television advertisements. Why do you think they were effective?
As you explore these advertisements, consider the following questions.
Compare the toys’ packaging and/or advertisements.
- Which conventions are predominant (colours, bold fonts, different fonts, layouts)?
- What images or keywords are used?
- Is music being used? If so, what type?
- Are there sound effects?
- How is a mood created?
- How are the elements of the media text working together to share the message?
- Does examining more than one advertisement of the same era help you to understand different advertising techniques better?
- Is the ad effective?
- Who is the intended audience?
Record your findings in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document, Popular Toy Advertisements Table.
| Print Advertisement or TV Commercial | Description of Ad |
What made this an effective or appealing advertisement? (ex. Colour, action, slogan, music, sounds) |
|---|---|---|
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Popular Toy Advertisements Table.
What about advertising today?
Consider advertisements available today. What techniques do they use? How do they present the information?
Advertisements are designed to appeal to a specific intended audience, and provide a specific message. The message provided may be overt (mentioned within the ad/what is directly told) or implied (based on inferences).
Compare and contrast one of the advertisements or packaging you researched with a current advertisement for a similar product. Do you notice any differences between the messages in the ads or how the information is being presented?
Use the following questions to help guide your comparison of the items packaging and/or advertisements.
- Which conventions are predominant (colours, bold fonts, different fonts)?
- What images or keywords are used?
- Is music being used? If so, what type?
- How is a mood created?
- How are the elements of the media text working together to share the message?
- Is one ad more effective than the other?
- Who is the intended audience?
Record your ideas using a method of your choice.
Consolidation
Create your own advertisement
Pick a product from your research and create an outline for an advertisement (print, radio, YouTube, or commercial).
Explain how your advertisement is effective.
You can also describe your advertisement as a detailed written or audio recording.
Checklist for a Print Ad
- I have an image/description of a product
- I have a message that is supportive of the product and all audiences
- I have used different conventions to help make my advertisement stand out
Checklist for a Commercial Script
- I have a script which describes the action and words of characters
- my message is supportive of the product and all audiences
- my choices of actions, sounds, and music help to set the tone and mood in a positive manner
Checklist for a Digital Ad
- I have an image of a product
- I have a message that is supportive of the product and all audiences
- I have used different conventions to help make my advertisement stand out
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, text-to-speech, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.