A. Literacy Connections and Applications / C. Comprehension · Understanding What We Read and See

Media Smarts: Looking at Ads, Posters and Screens

A2.1 A2.2 A2.3 A2.4 A2.5 A2.6 A2.7 C1.4About 40 minutes

Learning goals

I can name some kinds of media texts, like ads, posters and videos.
I can tell who made a media text, who it is for, and what it wants me to think or do.
I can stay safe online and ask a grown-up first.
I can be kind online and ask before sharing someone's picture.
I can make a simple poster to share a message.

Words to know

media
Ways of sharing messages with many people, like TV, videos, websites, apps, ads, posters and signs.

message
What a text wants you to know, think or do.

audience
The people a text is made for.

ad (advertisement)
A media text that tries to get you to buy or do something.

permission
When someone says yes, it is okay to do something.

private information
Facts about you that you keep safe, like your full name, address, school and passwords.

Media is all around us!

A cereal box, a TV show, a poster at the library, a video on a tablet, a stop sign: these are all media texts. They all share a message.

Today you will learn to be media smart: to ask good questions about media and to stay safe and kind online.

Question	What it means
Who made it?	The creator: a company, a person, a school, a city.
Who is it for?	The audience: kids, grown-ups, families, drivers.
What does it want me to think or do?	The message: buy this, come to this, be safe, learn this.
How does it get my attention?	Techniques: big letters, bright colours, music, cartoon characters, a famous person.

Four media-smart questions

Look at this ad

Picture: A cereal box with a smiling cartoon tiger, bright rainbow colours and big words: "SUPER CRUNCH! The most fun breakfast ever! Free toy inside!"

This box is a media text. It uses bright colours, a cartoon character and big, exciting words. These are techniques that get kids' attention.

The Super Crunch box uses techniques to get kids' attention. None of them tells you if the cereal is healthy.

Worked example

Let's ask the media-smart questions

Use the four questions on the Super Crunch cereal box.

Who made it? The cereal company.
Who is it for? Mostly kids, because it has a cartoon and a toy.
What does it want me to do? Buy the cereal (or ask a grown-up to buy it).
How does it get my attention? Bright colours, a cartoon tiger, big words and a free toy.
Think: Does "The most fun breakfast ever!" tell me if the cereal is healthy? No. Ads show the good parts to make us want things.

The ad was made by a company for kids, to get them to want the cereal. Being media smart means noticing that.

Staying safe and kind online

When you use a tablet, computer or phone:

✋ Ask a grown-up first before you go online, download an app, or click on something new.
🔒 Keep private information private: your full name, address, school, phone number and passwords.
📷 Ask permission before you take or share a picture of someone. Ask a grown-up before you share a picture of yourself.
💬 Be kind. Only write or say things online that you would say to someone's face.
🙋 If something online makes you feel scared, sad or confused, stop and tell a grown-up right away.

Worked example

Let's decide what is safe

A game on a tablet pops up a box: "What is your name and where do you live? Type it here to win a prize!" What should you do?

Ask: Is this private information? Yes, where I live is private.
Ask: Do I know who is asking? No.
Decide: Don't type it. Stop and tell a grown-up.

Do not share your name and address. Tell a grown-up. Real prizes don't need a kid's address.

Your name and address are private information. If a game or website asks for them, stop and tell a grown-up.

Finding information

You can learn from books, websites and videos. With a grown-up, ask:

Is this about my question?
Who made it? A museum, a library or a science website is a good place to look.
Does it match what I learned from another book?

Worked example

Let's make a media text to solve a problem

Problem: People in your family forget to turn off the lights. Make a poster to help.

Audience: my family.
Message: Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Techniques: a big, clear title ("LIGHTS OFF!"), a picture of a light switch, a bright colour.
Test it: Hang it by the light switch. Does the family remember better? If not, make it bigger or add a funny picture.

A simple poster with a clear message, made for a clear audience, can help solve a real problem.

Just for fun

What do you call a cereal box that tells jokes?

A SUPER CRUNCH-line... okay, okay, that one was a little corny! 🌽

Hands-on activity

Media detective walk

You need: your home, a grocery flyer or cereal box, paper and crayons.

Find 3 media texts in your home (a cereal box, a flyer, a magazine, a TV ad, a sign).
For each one, ask: Who made it? Who is it for? What does it want me to do?
Choose one problem at home (toys left on the stairs, forgetting to wash hands, wasting water).
Make a poster with a big title, a picture, and a message.
Hang it up. After a few days, talk: Did it work?

Your turn

Name three kinds of media texts.

Who is the audience for a toy ad with cartoons during a kids' show?

What does an ad usually want you to do?

Name one private piece of information you should keep safe online.

You want to post a picture of your friend. What should you do first?

Something online makes you feel scared. What should you do?

Name one technique that a poster uses to get your attention.

More practice: warm-up

Is a stop sign a media text?

What is a message?

Who should you ask before you go on a new website?

Is your password private?

Should you say mean things online?

More practice: on your own

A poster at the library says "Story Time! Saturday at 10! Kids ages 3 to 7!" Who is the audience? What is the message?

Why do ads for kids often use cartoon characters?

A video says "This toy is the BEST toy in the WORLD!" Should you believe it right away? Why?

Your friend writes a mean comment about another kid in a game chat. What could you do?

You want to learn about polar bears. Which is a better place to look: a zoo or museum website with a grown-up, or a random pop-up ad?

Challenge

Design a poster to remind kids at school to wash their hands. Tell the audience, message and two techniques.

Why would a toothpaste ad and a dentist's poster both talk about teeth but have different messages?

A game asks you to make a "username." Which is safer: Maya_Smith_123_Main_St or PurpleDragon7? Why?

Check your understanding

Quiz

What does an ad usually want you to do?

Who is the audience of a text?

A website asks for your home address. What should you do?

Before you share a picture of a friend, you should…

Which is a technique ads use to get attention?

Which is the kindest thing to write in a game chat?

You made a poster to help your family remember to turn off the lights. Who is your audience?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Strand A asks Grade 1 students to begin digital media literacy: understand how media texts are made (creator, audience, message, techniques); find and check simple information; use digital and media tools to create simple solutions; and interact online safely, kindly and with appropriate permission.

How to help at home:

Watch an ad together and ask "Who made this? What do they want us to do?"
Set clear family rules: ask before going online or downloading; never share full name, address, school or passwords; tell a grown-up about anything upsetting, without fear of getting in trouble.
Model asking permission before you post photos of your child ("Is it okay if I send this picture to Grandma?").
Use kid-safe search and sit beside your child when they look things up.

Common difficulties:

Believing everything in ads or videos. Keep asking "Is that really true? How could we check?"
Not seeing an online friend as a stranger. Explain that people online may not be who they say they are.
Thinking a username has to be their real name. Practise making safe, fun usernames.

Canada's centre for digital and media literacy, MediaSmarts, has free family resources on these topics.