Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Explore: Identifying healthy habits

40 minutes

Discover: Advertising healthy habits

20 minutes

Thrive: Celebrating healthy messages

Explore: Identifying healthy habits

Step 1

Ask students to consider the advertisements they have seen lately and reflect on any promoting healthy habits. Consider if the advertisements were effective and why/why not. Discuss as a group.

Step 2

Watch the following videos:

After watching the collection of videos, ask students to identify what each commercial was advertising, its target audience, and how effective they think it was at communicating a message.

Step 3

Ask students to reflect on which healthy habits they think are the most important for teenagers and why. Discuss as a group.

Use the following questions to prompt discussion:

Are healthy habits for teenagers different to other groups of people? If so, why?
Which healthy habits do you consider the most important?
Which healthy habits are the hardest to do consistently?
Are there healthy habits you want to include more in your life? Which ones?

Teacher note: In Step 1, consider social media advertising on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.

Discover: Advertising healthy habits

Step 1

Ask students to form groups of 3-4 and explain that they will be creating a TV advertisement to promote a healthy habit. They will be required to plan, produce and edit their own short videos carefully.

Step 2: Planning

Display the Planning Checklist graphic and distribute the Storyboard Template to each group.

Students will need to:

choose a healthy habit to promote
research and brainstorm 3 practical tools to support this healthy habit
create a storyboard and script for the advertisement, including key messages and visuals.

Examples:

Healthy Eating

Plan meals and snacks ahead of time
Drink water instead of sugary drinks
Use smaller plates and bowls to control portion size

Reducing Screen Time

Set a time limit for screen time each day
Take regular breaks from screens
No phones an hour before bedtime; try reading instead

Step 3: Production

Students film their advertisements using smartphones or the school’s filming equipment. Students can use props and costumes to enhance visuals and make their advertisements more engaging.

Step 4: Editing

Using editing software, students edit their advertisements to include key messages and visuals. Music and sound effects can be added to enhance the impact of their advertisements. Students should download their video as an MP4 file when completed.

Teacher note: Remind students to film in landscape, not portrait, unless they are creating their advertisement for social media. This lesson could stretch over 1-3 blocks, depending on available time. The advertisements could also be displayed or presented around the school as appropriate.

Thrive: Celebrating healthy messages

Step 1

Explain that this session will involve evaluating each group’s TV advertisement based on a set of agreed upon criteria. As a class, brainstorm possible awards and list their judging criteria.

Examples:

Most Persuasive Video
Most Useful Video
Highest Quality Production
Best Acting

Step 2

Host a class screening of the advertisements. After each advertisement plays, ask students to evaluate the effectiveness of the video using the Video Award worksheet. Before playing the next video, invite students from different groups to provide general feedback and identify the intended health message.

Step 3

Once all the videos have been shown, conduct an awards ceremony. This could involve students voting for their favourite video or devising a judging panel that distributes scores throughout the screening.

Health: Promoting Healthy Habits

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Summary

Lesson guides and printables

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