Category Archives: Grade 7

Lessons for Grade 7

The Target Audience

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Students viewed and analyzed the Dr. Pepper movie in the previous post. We searched Youtube for a few of their favorite ads. We viewed them and discussed the purpose of the ads and the target audience for each. We also briefly talked about the various techniques of each. They searched for others ads on Youtube that they enjoy watching. They emailed the link to me and shared what they found interesting for each. The following are the ads they sent to me.

Note: Most of these links no longer work. Most have been removed from Youtube for copyright infringement.

  • Women’s College Basketball Championship on ESPN – I like this video because I love basketball and I can relate to all of the basketball in the commercial. The commercial is also very intense and talks about competition and aggression. I’m very interested in the intense basketball moments of the commercial. (Camelle)
  • Volkswagen – This commercial appeals to me because I used to do weird things like that when I was a kid. (Brandon) I like this commercial because it is a combination of two of my favorite things: comedy and little kids.  It includes so much within one minute and two seconds. In the end the child is deceived into thinking that he has the force. (Michelle J)
  • Kia – I love this commercial because it appeals by the melody of the sound track and the fun characters which in this case are hamsters. (Evelyn)
  • Dwyane Wade’s New T-Moble NBC commercial – This appeals to me because it shows me the features of that phone. It helps us know what is cool about the phone and it makes you want to buy it. (Anthony)
  • Allstate – This as appeals to me because it happens all the time and it’s funny because it’s suppose to be a kid but it’s a man. (Elizabeth)
  • MacDonald – This McDonald’s commercial appeals to me because it shows two of the best basketball players in the NBA competing for a meal from McDonald’s. They are doing crazy dunks and impossible moves that inspire people. This also appeals to me because those impossible dunks keep me watching and entertained during the commercial. (Nick)
  • Dorito – This commercial appeals to me because i like Doritos. It is funny and helps you remember to ask your friends if they “saw the Doritos commercial.” (Hunter) This commercial is my favorite commercial because its very funny. Also, it proves the point how good doritos are and how addicting they are. This commercial makes me want to buy some doritos. It is also in good camera quality with the scenes and the face shots. (Jessica)
  • Doritos – (Devin) I love this commercial because doritos are my favorite chip, and i also think it is hilarious because they steal the chips, and then the guy is dressed as a dorito samuri.(Riley)
  • Windex – This commercial appeals to me because of its humor. In my house we do a lot of cleaning so seeing the Windex commercial just makes it so much fun. (Kendall)
  • Chrysler – Eminem and Detroit – This video appeals to me because it shows how Detroit came back from a lot of unluckiness. It also has Eminem. I like Eminem. (Nicole)
  • Rajon Rando Foot Locker – This advertisement catches my attention because of its intensity. It is based around hard work and commitment and that appeals to me because of my devotion to athletics. (Ariel)
  • Bud Light – I love this commercial because it makes the man look all cool, but then he realizes she has a cat and starts sneezing fire. (Emmanuel)
  • Bud Light Stranded – This makes fun of the show “Lost” and promotes Bud Light as the sheer sign of a good time. (Francisco)
  • Doritos – It’s really funny how the little boy is protecting his mom and his Doritos. That’s why I like it because it is funny. (Kiersten) This video symbolizes a kid’s authority and how he can be persuasive. This catches my attention because it targets me and my age group. (Andre) I love this commercial because the little boy is cute and hilarious.  Also, I like the commercial because they remembered to use the rule of thirds.  I think the idea for the commercial was very clever. (Ailene)
  • Gatorade – This commercial appeals to me because I like sports and Gatorade. The beat is really hypnotizing. (Aimee)
  • Gatorade – I like this commercial because it shows my liking for basketball and the liking for my favorite basketball team and my favorite player for the Orlando Magic. (Andrew)
  • Geiko – I like this because it is funny and dumb.(Michele)
  • Life Water – Sobe Thriller Lizard Dance – This commercial is appealing to me because, it’s funny and it makes me want to get up and dance. I think that it is a good attention and eye grabber because of all of the colors. (Ashley)
  • Subway – I like this commercial because I love how they changed the voices and I was just waiting for the guy to throw the first punch for the sandwich. (Alyna)
  • Subway – This is a funny commercial because the people’s voices are little kids’ voices and the one guy says that the guy with the Subway sandwich can’t use his basketball hoop trash can. (Juliana)
  • State Farm – I like this video because it’s funny. It is also well thought out.(Eleeza)
  • Skittles – This commercial appeals to me because it is so random. Why would an old man need a shock from a giant sock man? No reason. It’s just amusing in that sense. (Blake)
  • Zoosk – How does this video appeal to me? This video appeals to me because the dart man was called an “athlete,” even though darts is not a real sport. After the “Kachow!”, he hits the guy drinking beer, his head hits the table, then he falls to the ground. I could just watch that over and over again! (Jacqueline)
  • Cheetos – I love this commercial because it starts off with the guy dancing and it really draws you in. It makes you think, “I wonder what in the world this is about…”, so you immediately want to watch more of it. Then, just when you think they can’t be dorkier, their manager walks up and asks them straight out if their having a party. They say no and close the door on him, even though he can obviously see everything their doing. The music also drew me in from the beginning because the beat is funny and the way the guy is dancing…hysterical. I crack up every time I see, wishing I could watch it again. (Arianna)
  • Mio – I like this commercial because I love how the different colors swirl around in the water. I think the song they use goes perfect with this commercial because since you can choose how much you’d like of the enhancer, the songs lyrics are matching. (Nicole)
  • Chips Ahoy – I think that the commercial is very funny because the cookies are being eaten while they are singing “Don’t You Want Me Baby”.  It also kind of makes me think that the cookies are tired of being unwanted and just want to become a snack. (Kevin)
  • Dr Pepper – This commercial is promoting the Dr. Pepper fountain drink. This commercial appeals to me because I love Dr. Pepper and Gene Simmons. Genne Simmons is part of the band KISS, which is one of my favorite bands, so this makes me want to go buy it because he likes it too. This commercial is entertaining, comical, and easy to watch. That is why I love the Dr. Pepper commercial! (Samanth S)
  • Pawn Stars – I really enjoy this show and this commercial catches my attention. I believe it represents the show well by showing the four main “Pawn Stars” and the music while being very catching is also describing the show by saying “Lets make a deal, lets make a real deal”. Also it is showing customers and their items, some being very interesting making you want to tune in to the show to see that item and its story. (Armondo M)

Analyzing Commercials

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View the Dr. Pepper commercial below. Assess the technical elements:

  1. number of shots
  2. length of each shot
  3. camera angle of each shot & location of the camera for each
  4. effects of close-up/medium/long shots
  5. framing (rule of thirds)
  6. backgrounds
  7. lighting for each shot
  8. visual transitions
  9. sound track
  10. special effects or animation
  11. script/message

Discuss the following:

  • Who created the message?
  • What is the target audience?
  • What creative techniques are used to attract attention?
  • How might different people understand this message differently?
  • What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
  • Why is this message being sent?

Dr. Pepper Commercial Quicktime Version (Recommendation: Watch it several times without the sound to focus on elements #1-8 above.)

DrPepper

Big Idea – Media Literacy

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Big Idea: Media literacy is a life-long skill essential to digital citizenship, informed-decision making and active participation in our society.

Guiding Questions

  • Who created the message?
  • What is the target audience?
  • What creative techniques are used to attract attention?
  • How might different people understand this message differently?
  • What values, lifestyles and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?
  • Why is this message being sent?

Paraphrase – Cyberbullying

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When you paraphrase or restate information in your own words, it helps you to understand and to remember the information. You can paraphrase you what have heard as well as information you have read.
  1. Listen to the information about Cyberbullying on BrainPOP.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice. Enter your name at the top of the document.
  3. Write a detailed summary of the information you heard in Cyberbullying. Do not copy and paste. Write the summary in your own words. Include the following
    1. the definition of a cyberbully
    2. why people become cyberbullies
    3. what you can do if you know it is happening to you
    4. what can you do if you know someone is cyberbullying another person
    5. use these terms in your summary (all were used in the BrainPOP video)
      1. rumor (a story or statement talked about as news without any proof that it is true)
      2. depression (sadness, low spirits)
      3. self-esteem (self-respect)
      4. nausea (the feeling that one might vomit)
      5. host – on the Internet (company that provides the Internet service)
      6. evidence (anything that shows what really happened, the proof)
      7. harassment (being troubled by repeated attacks)
      8. anonymous (by a person whose name is unknown or given)
      9. impersonate (pretend to be someone else)
  4. Use complete sentences, correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  5. Copy and paste the statement below at the bottom of your summary,

    As per the Student-Parent Handbook (pg. 35), “Cyberbullying” is one of the many forms that inappropriate behaviors can take. Therefore, those students participating in cyberbullying can be punished by the school.

  6. Place the final document in the Cyberbullying dropbox.

Practice Paraphrasing – Cyberbullying

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When you paraphrase or restate information in your own words, it helps you to understand and to remember the information. You can paraphrase what you have heard as well as information you have read.
  1. Listen to the information about Cyberbullying on BrainPOP.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice. Enter your name at the top of the document.
  3. Write a detailed summary of the information you heard in Cyberbullying. Do not copy and paste information. The summary should be in your own words. Include the following
    1. the definition of a cyberbully
    2. the effects of being bullied
    3. why people become cyberbullies
    4. what you can do if you know it is happening to you
    5. what can you do, and should you do if you know someone is cyberbullying another person
    6. use these terms in your summary:
      1. rumor (a story or statement talked about as news without any proof that it is true)
      2. depression (sadness, low spirits)
      3. self-esteem (self-respect)
      4. nausea (the feeling that one might vomit)
      5. host – on the Internet (company that provides the Internet service)
      6. evidence (anything that shows what really happened, the proof)
      7. harassment (being troubled by repeated attacks)
      8. anonymous (by a person whose name is unknown or given)
      9. impersonate (pretend to be someone else)
  4. Use complete sentences, correct spelling, grammar and punctuation.
  5. Copy and paste the statement below at the bottom of your summary,

    As per the Student-Parent Handbook (pg. 35), “Cyberbullying” is one of the many forms that inappropriate behaviors can take. Therefore, those students participating in cyberbullying can be punished by the school.

  6. Place the final document in the Cyberbullying dropbox.

Paraphrase Practice – Health Topics

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Grades 6 and 7

  1. When “an idea is expressed in a complicated way, it can help to think about how you would explain it to somebody else. Retelling something in your own words, or paraphrasing, also helps you to remember what you read.”  Paraphrasing (Time for Kids)
  2. Select one of the articles on Staying Healthy to read or listen to.
  3. Open a new OpenOffice text document. Enter your name and the name of the article you read.
  4. Write a paragraph summary of the information, paraphrasing the information in your own words.
  5. Write in complete sentences using correct punctuation and grammar. Spell all words correctly.
  6. Select and Copy the URL of your source information website. Go to EasyBib. Paste the URL of the information source website into EasyBib to create a bibliography entry. Add an annotation. Select and copy the bibliography entry and the annotation.
  7. Paste the bibliography entry with annotation into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  8. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  9. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  10. Save the document in My Documents. Name the document with your last name and Health (for example, Smith Health)
  11. Place the document in the Paraphrase Health assignment in the class dropbox on Sycamore.

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Citation Practice: War in Libya

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  1. Read this article on War in Libya
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Place this in the War in Libya dropbox assignment on Sycamore.

Sample Student Work (Grade 7)

War in Libya
by Hailey A.

The war in Libya is growing. It started as an uprising in February, and now the U.S., Britain, and France are involved. On March 17, the United Nations Security Council voted to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya (An). The United States is going to turn over major responsibility soon to another county.

Bibliography:

An, Vickie. “Time for Kids | News | War in Libya.” Time For Kids | Classroom. 21 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2060681,00.html>.

  • This website is a valid source because it is from Time magazine, a major news source.

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Citation Practice: Goodbye, Space

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  1. Read this article on Goodbye, Space!.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Place this in the Goodbye Space dropbox assignment.

Sample Student Work (Grade 7)

Discovery
by Dylan S.

 

The space shuttle Discovery has just gone on its last trip into space. It went to the International Space Station to add new storage space. Now that Discovery has been retired it will be added to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. (Zimbler)

Bibliography

Zimbler, Suzanne. “Time for Kids | News | Goodbye, Space!” Time For Kids | Classroom. 09 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2058053,00.html>.

  • I know it is a valid website because it is on Time magazine’s website, Time magazine is a well known magazine

 

Space
by Tyler S.

The space shuttle Discovery was working in space for 27 years carrying astronauts. The space shuttle was been on 39 missions going to space and back. Discovery’s final trip was to the International Space Station. Since 1998, 16 nations have been working together to build the space base 220 miles above Earth.365 days in space and has traveled a whopping 148 million miles since 1984.After 30 years NASA, plan is to begin work on new spaceships that can travel longer distances. Endeavor, another shuttle, is scheduled to make its final voyage next month. Museums across the country have requested the retired shuttles. (Zimbler)

Bibliography

 

Zimbler, Suzanne. “Time for Kids | News | Goodbye, Space!” Time For Kids | Classroom. 09 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2058053,00.html>.

  • This is a good website because it is a news company

Citation Practice: Nuclear Safety

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  1. Read this article on U.S. nuclear safety in focus after Japan quake.
  2. Open a new text document in OpenOffice.
  3. Write a summary of the article in your own words. Do not use any quotations.
  4. Create a bibliography for the article using EasyBib.
  5. Paste the bibliography entry into the OpenOffice document. Make sure it is a hanging indent paragraph.
  6. Add a bullet note under the bibliography entry with annotation indicating how you know this is a valid source of information.
  7. Go back to the summary you wrote. Cite the source of the information using a parenthetical citation.
  8. Save the article and place in the class dropbox.

Sample Student Work (8th Grade)

Nuclear
by Ariel M.

Japan’s earthquake and catastrophic events have nuclear plants worried in the United States about their readiness for disaster. Many people in the United States felt that Japan was more prepared for this then they appeared to be. However, while the general public may be concerned about the safety of the United States power plants, owners and engineering excepts are certain the the U.S. is well drilled and well prepared (U.S. Nuclear Safety).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc., 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is valid because it is an article from an official news website.

 

Nuclear Power Plants in Japan
by Michele P.

The earthquake in Japan is a wake up call for our nuclear power plants here in the US. Many plants are located on fault lines, that may be hazardous if affected by an earthquake. Officials say that the nuclear power plants in California are well prepared for a disaster. The officials believe that we are more prepared then the Japanese were, and that the age of the power plants may be a contributer to the fall of the nuclear power plants in Japan ( U.S. Nuclear Saftey in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News).

Bibliography

“U.S. Nuclear Safety in Focus after Japan Quake – The Early Show – CBS News.” Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News – CBS News. CBS, 14 Mar. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2011. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/earlyshow/main20042815.shtml>.

  • This is a verifiable site because it was made by a news station and has an official publishing sponsor.