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5th grade · English Language Arts · Unit 8 of 11

Media Smarts

See through persuasive ads

What your child practices

Spotting the tricks ads use, telling facts from opinions, and asking smart questions about who made a message and why.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: Reading 11; Reading 10 · the purposes of ads and the techniques they use to persuade

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Ads use tricks to sell. Bandwagon says everyone is doing it. A testimonial uses someone famous or happy to praise it.
  2. Emotional appeal tries to make you feel something, like fear or joy.
  3. Ask: who made this, who is it for, and what do they want me to do?

Example: An ad says, “All the kids in town have one. Don’t be left out!” Which technique is this? It says everyone has it. Joining in because others do is bandwagon. Answer: bandwagon

Media Smarts in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 8 of 11 in 5th grade English Language Arts, after Punctuation Power and before Create With Words, Pictures and Sound.

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: Maine Department of Education

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

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    A popular singer says, “This toothpaste gives me my bright smile.”

    • emotional appeal
    • repetition
    • exaggeration
    • testimonial

  2. Question 2

    Sort these ad statements into facts and opinions.

    Sort into: 📏 Fact · 💬 Opinion

    • 📖This is the best book of the year.
    • 🧥This jacket looks amazing on everyone.
    • 🧥This jacket comes in three colors.
    • 🥣Our cereal tastes better than any other.
    • 🥣The cereal box holds 500 grams.
    • 📖The book has 240 pages.

  3. Question 3

    An ad says a famous athlete loves a certain cereal. What's the best question to ask?

    • What is the athlete's favorite color?
    • How tall is the athlete?
    • Was the athlete paid to say this?
    • Does the box have a picture on it?

  4. Question 4

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    All your friends already have light-up sneakers. Get yours today!

    • testimonial
    • emotional appeal
    • bandwagon
    • exaggeration

  5. Question 5

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    Clean teeth. Clean smile. Clean start!

    • repetition
    • exaggeration
    • testimonial
    • bandwagon

  6. Question 6

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    Puppies at the shelter are waiting for a loving home. Will you give one a family?

    • bandwagon
    • testimonial
    • repetition
    • emotional appeal

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