Teaching Visual Media in class

REFLEXION
Now a days the variety of media for children is amazing and very vast, but it can also be very dangerous. We decided to introduce billboards to our children because in the country and city we live in, we are surrounded by them everywhere. Not all of them are intended for children, but they still have access to them when they are walking in the streets or in their cars, looking out the window. Billboards are an excellent example of visual media, because they are intended to have very little writing or none at all and a lot of color and images because there is no time to take the time to analyze them, so the message is delivered pronto! I think that by doing this kind of activities at a very early age, having them try to interpret visual media, question themselves about its existence and purpose, will help develop visual skills. As I mentioned before, the dangerous part of this kind of media. is and has always been, subliminal messages. Its easy to hide pictures within the images to manipulate their thinking process and as we found out in many web pages, there is a lot of hidden, inappropriate things, even in Disney movies. It makes me sad but also aware of how careful I need to be displaying images in my classroom.

LESSON PLAN: CRITICAL THINKERS = VISUAL LITERATE CHILDREN

Objectives: 

Students will learn what ads are.

Students will recognize content of commercial ads.

Preparation:

Before going out on the next field trip, (TURIBUS),  teachers will show several pictures of ads to students. 

Teachers will initiate inquiry through questions such as: 

Do you see pictures? Which?

Do you see animals? Which? Do they look real? Are  they cartoons?

Do you see colors? Which?

Do you see letters? Big? Small?

How does this ad make you feel?

What do you think they are advertising?

Activity:

The day of the field trip, around the city, children will take pictures of ads they like.

Will discuss and reflect back in the classroom.

Culmination:

Class will be divided in three groups. Each group will create a collage with pictures they took during their field trip.

Each group will share with other two groups.