Entrepreneurship · Lesson Plan
Advertising
Advertising is the public promotion of a product or service to attract interest and increase sales. This lesson surveys the many forms of advertising and the persuasion appeals advertisers use — from snob appeal and bandwagon to celebrity endorsement and scientific claims — then has students plan and pay for an ad campaign for a product or service. A natural fit for a classroom economy.
For Teachers
Lesson at a glance
- Topic
- Entrepreneurship
- Grade Level
- Grades 4–8
- Resource Type
- Lesson + Worksheet
- Estimated Time
- 45–60 minutes
- Format
- Lesson + activity
- Materials
- Printable lesson, activity sheet, whiteboard
What Students Learn
Learning objectives
- Identify different types of advertising
- Explain that businesses advertise to increase revenue
- Describe common advertising appeals
- Choose a way to advertise a product or service
- Plan an advertising campaign
Materials
What you’ll need
- Printed lesson and activity sheet (one per student)
- Examples of ads (print, video, audio)
- Classroom currency for ad ‘charges’
- Markers and paper for ad design
Key Terms
Vocabulary
- Advertising
- Public promotion of a product or service to increase sales.
- Target audience
- The specific group an ad is meant to reach.
- Medium
- The channel used for an ad (TV, radio, signs, flyers).
- Appeal
- A persuasion technique that motivates people to buy.
- Bandwagon
- An appeal that urges you to join the crowd.
- Celebrity endorsement
- An appeal using a famous person to recommend a product.
For Teachers
Lesson plan
Estimated time: one 45–60 minute class period.
Lesson sequence
- Discuss (10 min). What advertising is and how much it can cost (Super Bowl example).
- Forms & targeting (12 min). Brainstorm forms of advertising; explain target audience, message, and medium.
- Appeals (13 min). Review persuasion appeals (snob, bandwagon, celebrity, beauty, scientific claim) with real examples.
- Plan a campaign (15 min). Students complete the activity sheet to plan — and pay for — an ad campaign.
Assessment
Assess the campaign plan for a clear audience, message, medium, and a recognizable appeal.
Discussion
Discussion questions
- Why do businesses advertise?
- What forms of advertising can you name?
- What is a target audience, and why does it matter?
- Which advertising appeals have you seen recently?
- How would you advertise your own product or service?
Printable Lesson & Activity
Advertising — Lesson & Activity Sheet
A printable advertising lesson covering forms of advertising and persuasion appeals, with an activity sheet to plan an ad campaign.
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