Below you will see a list of activities for each week along with a description of how to complete the assignment.
WEEK 1
Day 1
The first day will be an introduction to looking at media to give students a better understanding of the different outlets of media. We will discuss questions addressing how media dictates our social culture and personal lives in our society.
Day 2
The second day will be introducing drugs and alcohol. Students will be able to get a further look into how media portrays drugs and alcohols. The teacher will hold a discussion based around the different ways media portrays drugs and alcohol, in order to help students realize the dangers of drug/alcohol abuse.
Day 3
Students will be analyzing the effects of drugs and alcohol through a 20-minute documentary called “Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Drug and Alcohol Abuse”. The documentary is intended to show students the truth behind alcohol and drug abuse. It interviews actual teenagers and their personal struggle with the abuse and the consequences of doing so. Afterward, the teacher will hold a discussion on the video.
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Homework for the students is to find a pop culture reference to drugs and alcohol in media.
Day 4
Students will bring in the research they found on pop culture portrayal and will share in small groups. They will then do further research in their groups on one of the topics to make a poster teaching the class about their findings.
Day 5
The focus of day 5 is the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. We will have a guest speaker, a DUI offender to talk about his personal story. Students will also watch the YouTube video “I Killed a Man” by Matthew Cordle, showing the consequences of driving under the influence.
WEEK 2
Day 6
We will have a police officer come in to talk about D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). The police officer will give a presentation on statistics related to drugs and alcohol among teenagers.
Day 7
Students will participate in an activity called “drunk glasses” to create the experience of being drunk and unable to walk. The discussion will lead to the dangers of peer pressure. We will hold a discussion on peer pressure.
Day 8
On day 8, the teacher will facilitate a discussion on how to help others stay clean and most importantly, where to find resources and to get help. Students are encouraged to be positive influences and knowledgeable citizens by signing a contract to commit to a drug-free life
Day 9
The teacher will provide a lecture/presentation to introduce the way media perpetuates ideal body standards in both males and females.
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Homework for the students is to bring in magazine clippings to discuss how media portrays bodies.
Day 10
Students will analyze the media advertisements as a class, finding a way to categorize the different images. We will then have a discussion on the concept of the perfect body.
WEEK 3
Day 11
We will read excerpts from The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolfe. This piece takes a feminist approach to analyzing how men’s standards of beauty in society hold women back. We will take this piece to apply it to other social groups, of how women create beauty standards for men as well.
Day 12
A short YouTube clip called “Women’s Ideal Body Type Around the World” shows how beauty standards around the world can vary. The teacher will facilitate a discussion on how this relates to The Beauty Myth that we read the day before.
Day 13
We will spend this day focusing on boosting body image. Students are encouraged to explore different ways they can boost their own body image as well as use media to spread messages of body positivity. They will brainstorm ways, addressing any of the topics covered in this unit (drugs, alcohol, body image), on how to decrease the effects of media in these two areas and how to remedy these issues. This is an introduction to the final project.
Day 14
Students will have the opportunity to utilize class time to discuss and research the topic they would like to present.
Day 15
Students will watch part of a 90-minute documentary called “Miss Representation”, showcasing the challenges teens face when it comes to body image issues. The documentary analyzes the long-term effects of the negative messages media sends to teenagers.
WEEK 4
Day 16
Students will finish watching “Miss Representation” in class. After, students will participate in a Socratic seminar based on the documentary and the challenges individuals face trying to emulate the media’s portrayal of “the perfect body”.
Day 17
We will have a discussion on personal body image issues. This is a sensitive subject, so students are asked to sign a confidentiality form before starting. The students will first do a quick write on the struggles they have had related to body image. Then students will participate in “secret circles” where they will have the opportunity to share their struggles and to encourage each other.
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Homework: Bring an electronic device that you can use to access the Internet
Day 18
In the first half of the class, students will analyze how social media can be used to spread messages of body positivity. The second half of class will be dedicated finish up the presentations.
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Homework: Be prepared! Presentations start tomorrow
Day 19
Students will start presenting their project.
Day 20
Project Presentations