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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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 5.2.4.2; 5.1.7.1 · persuasive techniques and how perspective shapes an argument

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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?

    “I eat these granola bars before every game,” says a famous hockey star.

    • exaggeration
    • testimonial
    • bandwagon
    • repetition

  2. Question 2

    Sort these ad statements into facts and opinions.

    Sort into: 📏 Fact · 💬 Opinion

    • 📖This is the best book of the year.
    • 📖The book has 240 pages.
    • 🥣The cereal box holds 500 grams.
    • 🎲The game is for ages 8 and up.
    • 🏪Our store has the friendliest staff in town.
    • 🎲This game is the most fun you'll ever have.

  3. Question 3

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    The most delicious pizza in the entire universe!

    • emotional appeal
    • bandwagon
    • testimonial
    • exaggeration

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    Which persuasive technique does this ad use?

    Crunchy crackers. Crunchy fun. Crunchy every time!

    • exaggeration
    • repetition
    • bandwagon
    • testimonial

  6. Question 6

    Which statement from an ad is a fact that could be checked?

    • Our store has the friendliest staff in town.
    • Our cereal tastes better than any other.
    • This is the coolest bike ever.
    • The book has 240 pages.

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