Synopsis

Students consider influences on food choices including common advertising techniques.

They work in groups to create a commercial for a food product and act out their commercials for the class which discusses the advertising techniques used.

Teaching Steps

1. 1. Discuss influences on food choices.

   Ask students why they pick the foods they do.

   Possible Responses:

   • Nutrition
   • Taste
   • Friends eat it
   • Parents buy it
   • Cost

   SKILL DEVELOPMENT

   Many factors influence food choices, including:

   • Taste
   • Family
   • Culture
   • Peers
   • Media

   The purpose of advertising is to influence choices.

2. 2. Discuss advertising.

   Ask students why they like certain foods. Has a food advertisement ever made them want to try a certain food?

   Discuss common advertising techniques. See Food and Advertising, online at: /content/id/73/topic/7

   DISCUSSION POINTS

   • Have any students ever received a prize or a gift for buying a food? What kind of food was it? Did they like the prize or gift?
   • Do students ever eat something because their friends eat it?
   • Will buying a particular food make someone happier? Why or why not?
   • Can students name any famous people who endorse food products?
   • If they've ever tried a food because of an advertisement, did the food meet their expectations? Why or why not? Was the food healthy?

   CONCEPTS

   • Advertisements are paid announcements created to sell a product.
   • Food companies advertise in order to sell a product; the information in the ads is not the only information we need to make healthful decisions.
   • Celebrities are paid for their endorsements. They may not even eat that food.

3. 3. Groups create commercials.

   Divide the class into groups of four or five. Tell groups to create a television commercial (advertisement) for any food (real or made up) that they will act out for the class. Encourage students to be creative and convincing. Make construction paper and markers available if students want to use them.

4. 4. Reflect, summarize, and discuss.

   As groups present their commercials, discuss the advertising techniques they used.

   DISCUSSION POINTS

   • Would the commercial influence people to buy the food? Why or why not?
   • Which technique is most effective?

Assessment

Tell students to find an advertisement for a food product that they think they would like to try. Ask them to write about the way the food is advertised. What advertising technique is used? Why is it effective?

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