Capaldo-Mini-Lesson+Plan

Topic: Truth vs. Lies
 * Name: Taylor-Lynn Capaldo **

// Brief Description of the Lesson: // Students will examine the concept of Truth vs. Lies and lies of omission through exploring the content of various fast food chain commercials and advertisements. Students will access nutritional information of fast food and compare it to the government guidelines of daily caloric intake and recommended nutritional standards.

// Learning Targets: // I can recognize that advertisements are used as persuasive tools. I can compare the suggested service size tot what I normally consume when I eat fast food.

// Engage Students’ Interest: // Teacher will access the Alphaila.com website showing Fast Food Ads vs. Reality comparing the photos of food from McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc. with actual photos of the food sold in the fast food restaurants. Teacher will play various advertisements of fast food chains that depict their food products as “all-natural” or “healthy alternatives.”

// Describe the Activity: // Students will view the Fast Food Ads vs. Reality blogspot to compare the difference of advertising messages vs. the food that they consume when they visit fast food chain websites to locate the nutritional information that is posted for common foods such as cheeseburgers, french fries, and chicken fingers. Students will be presented with a food chart with government recommended health standards for children their age or younger. Students will compare recommended serving sizes and caloric intake along with the nutritional information from fast foods.

// Assessment Procedure: // Students will record serving sizes and caloric intake of common foods from fast food chains. They will compare this information and arrange a presentation to the CEO of a major fast food chain to present their findings. They construct a persuasive speech or letter convincing the CEO of McDonalds (or other popular fast food chain) to be more honest about the content of the foods that they sell, or to change the way that they advertise their food. Students may also include any details that they feel the public should have the right to know about fast food chains.