TITLE: Political Commercials – Does Every Ad Have Two Sides?

OBJECTIVE: SWBAT produce a negative or positive television campaign ad. SWBAT

explain how to critically evaluate political commercials.

TASK: Create a positive or negative campaign ad using Frames or Windows Movie

Maker.

STANDARDS MEET:
What are the Roles of the Citizen in American Democracy?
 What is citizenship?

 What are the rights of citizens?

 What are the responsibilities of citizens?

 What dispositions or traits of character are important to the preservation and improvement of
American constitutional democracy?

 How can citizens take part in civic life?

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•S)

and Performance Indicators for Students
1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop
innovative products and processes
using technology. Students:
a. apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or
processes.
b. create original works as a means of personal or group expression.
c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues.
d. identify trends and forecast possibilities.
2. Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work
collaboratively, including at a distance,
to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
Students:
a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others
employing a variety of digital environments
and media.
b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple
audiences using a variety of media and formats.
c. develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging
with learners of other cultures.
d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve
problems.
3. Research and Information Fluency
Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.
Students:
a. plan strategies to guide inquiry.
b. locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use
information from a variety of sources and
media.
c. evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on
the appropriateness to specific tasks.
d. process data and report results.
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage
projects, solve problems, and make
informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. Students:
a. identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for
investigation.
b. plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a
project.
c. collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed
decisions.
d. use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore
alternative solutions.

Before you Start:

 Watch the Dissect an Ad on PBS
o http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov1996/takingonthekennedys/dissect.html
 Read ad facts at:
o http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov1996/takingonthekennedys/dissect/ad.facts
.html
 Watch some of the award winning ads:
o http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/2008_factcheck_awards.html
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LESSON PLAN:
Assign students to either the positive or negative TV campaign ad. Depending on the assignment, either give
students the positive or negative list. Have students use pictures, audio recording, and music to produce either a
positive campaign add or a negative campaign ad. Students should be encouraged to select the appropriate music
and pictures for either campaign ad.

Positive Negative

Proposes 30 extra minutes of recess every day. Proposal would cause the school day to be extended by
30 minutes

Proposes no homework on weekends Proposal would cause the amount of weekday

 homework to double.

Proposes cell phones at school. Proposal would cause teachers to collect cell phones at
the beginning of each period.

Proposes vending machines to be on 24/7. Proposal would cause only healthy food to be placed in
machines.

Proposes no tests. Proposal would cause a written report every week.

Proposes to allow gum in classes. Proposal would cause every student to scrap gum off of
desks, chairs, and floors.

Resources:
Frames:
http://www.recipes4success.com/index.php?page_ac=view&type=tutorials&ref_id=255014

Windows Movie Maker:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/create/default.mspx

PHOTOS: http://www.pics4learning.com/

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WRAP UP: Show students sites like:

Project Vote Smart http://www.votesmart.org/
FactCheck http://www.factcheck.org/
Help students understand that what they see in the campaign ads may not be
100% accurate.