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1st grade · English Language Arts · Unit 12 of 13

Messages All Around

Who made it, and why?

What your child practices

Children look at everyday messages, like signs, ads, cards and videos, and practice asking who made them, why, and how they make us feel. This is the media literacy part of the standards.

Alaska content standards learning standard: SL.1.2; RI.1.6 · asking and answering questions about everyday messages in pictures, words and other media

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Every message is made by a person or a group.
  2. Ads want you to want something.
  3. Bright colors and big words catch your eye.

Example: An ad says “Kids love it!” What does the ad want? Ads try to make you want things. It wants you to want it too. Answer: for you to want it too

Messages All Around in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 12 of 13 in 1st grade English Language Arts, after Think It Through and before Story or Facts?.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    An ad shows a happy kid with a new toy. What does it want?

    • to tell the weather
    • to teach about trees
    • for you to buy the toy
    • to warn you

  2. Question 2

    A video shows how to tie shoes. Why was it made?

    • to tell a joke
    • to sell shoes
    • to teach you
    • to scare you

  3. Question 3

    Two kids see the same ad. Can they feel different about it?

    • no, never
    • yes, people can feel different
    • only grown-ups feel things
    • only on Monday

  4. Question 4

    A birthday card is made to…

    • warn about a storm
    • sell a cake
    • teach spelling
    • make someone feel special

  5. Question 5

    A poster says “Lost cat! Please call.” Who made it?

    • the cat
    • a cartoon
    • a toy store
    • the cat's family

  6. Question 6

    A message makes you want something right now. What can you do?

    • click on it
    • buy it fast
    • share it with everyone
    • stop and talk to a grown-up first

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