Media - Day 1 grades 7+ learning activities
These activities will help youth build a positive view of themselves and recognize their strengths while thinking about media. They can be done alone or with friends over a video chat such as Skype, Zoom, Facetime, etc.
Mindfulness Activity
Trivia Question: What food do Giant Pandas normally eat? See mindfulness activity answer at the end of the lesson plan.
Mindfulness Activity:
- Lay on your back
- Breathe and listen to the sounds your lungs make
- Notice your pulse and the sounds you hear around you
The Selfie Photo Experiment
Supplies:
- a phone with a camera
Self-esteem is what you think about yourself. Self-image is how you think other people think of you. This activity is all about celebrating positive self-esteem and positive self-image.
- Take a selfie portrait of yourself and have your friends and family members take one as well.
- Send your selfie picture to your family and friends with a message of what you liked about your selfie. Ask them to send you their selfies as well.
- When you receive a selfie from a friend or family member, write them messages of what you liked about their selfies. You can share messages like “great confidence,” “you’re fun,” “nice smile,” or “beautiful eyes”.
- Compare your messages with one another and see if you can find any common messages you receive.
Discuss with your friends and family:
- How did it feel to see the comments your friends and family made about you?
- Are the comments you made on your own selfie, different from the ones your family and friends made about you?
- Was it more difficult to make positive comments about yourself or about your friends and family?
Best. Outfit. Ever.
Supplies:
- blank paper
- coloured pencils
There is an interesting relationship between media and gender, and how gender is represented in media platforms. Platforms like film, radio, television, advertisement, social media and video games all shape the way we view gender. Sometimes, media shows us unreal versions of gender. When we aren’t aware that these images are false, it can damage our self-esteem.
- Draw a simple outline of a body, then design the Best. Outfit. Ever.
- What qualities does your outfit have?
- What makes it uniquely suited to you and your body?
- How does your outfit express your gender?
- How would you feel wearing this outfit?
- When you are done, share your ideas with someone at your house, or with a friend online or by text.
If you want to go further on this topic, check out this video about how fashion standards for men and women have changed over the decades.
- How have ideas of gender changed over the years?
- How much influence does media have on your body image and fashion choices?
- Can you change the influence media has on you? How?
"I am"
Supplies:
- blank paper
- pen or pencil
- magazines or stencils
- scissors
- glue
On a blank piece of paper, create a series of positive “I am” statements. For example, “I am a hard worker” or “I am good at basketball.” Write down as many as you can think of.
Next, decorate your list by adding magazine cut outs or drawings of things you like and things that reflect who you are and what you are good at.
Hang it up in your room as something you can reflect on when you are feeling unsure of yourself.
Review Questions
- How does it feel to think positively about yourself?
- What do you think about the way media influences your self-image?
- What can you do to create positive self-esteem and a positive self-image?