Lesson Plan
More Than a Pretty Face
Students will be able to identify at least two ways that media can present unrealistic body images and suggest one strategy to combat its influence.
In today's digital world, students are constantly exposed to media that often portrays unrealistic body images. This lesson empowers them to critically analyze these messages, fostering healthier self-perception and media literacy.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
35 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, visual analysis, and reflective activities.
Materials
- Slide Deck: Decoding Media Messages, - Media Detective Worksheet, - Real vs. Ideal Discussion Prompts, and - Pictures of digitally altered and non-altered images (teacher-provided, appropriate for 6th grade)
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Decoding Media Messages and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the Media Detective Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare 2-3 pairs of images: one clearly digitally altered (e.g., heavily filtered, unrealistic body proportions) and one natural/realistic image (e.g., unretouched photo, diverse body types). Ensure images are age-appropriate.
- Review the Real vs. Ideal Discussion Prompts to facilitate group conversations.
- Set up projector/screen for the slide deck.
Step 1
Opening Circle: What Do We See Online?
5 minutes
- Begin with a brief Warm Up: Media Check-in activity.
- Project Slide 2: What Do We See? and ask students to share what kind of images they see online, especially related to people and appearances. Encourage open sharing without judgment.
- Facilitate a quick discussion: 'How do these images make you feel?' 'Do they always seem real?'
Step 2
Introduce Media Literacy & Unrealistic Standards
7 minutes
- Transition to Slide 3: Media Messages and introduce the concept of media literacy. Explain that media creators often have specific goals.
- Move to Slide 4: Unrealistic Expectations? and discuss how media can create unrealistic beauty standards. Use simple language to explain terms like 'body image' and 'beauty standards.'
- Show Slide 5: Digital Magic! and briefly explain digital alteration (filters, airbrushing, etc.) without going into technical details. Emphasize that many images are not 'real.'
Step 3
Spot the Edit: Photo Analysis Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Media Detective Worksheet to each student.
- Project Slide 6: Media Detective Time! and explain the activity.
- Show your pre-selected pairs of images (digitally altered vs. realistic) one at a time. For each pair, give students a minute to observe and note down on their worksheet what they notice, focusing on differences and potential alterations.
- After each pair, briefly discuss as a class, guiding students to identify differences. 'What looks natural here?' 'What might have been changed?'
Step 4
Group Discussion: Real vs. Ideal
8 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
- Project Slide 7: Discuss & Reflect and introduce the Real vs. Ideal Discussion Prompts. Explain that each group will discuss a few prompts.
- Circulate among groups, listening to discussions and offering guidance if needed. Encourage respectful sharing of ideas and feelings.
- Bring the class back together for a brief whole-class share-out on one or two key points from their discussions.
Step 5
Closing Circle & Media-Free Pledge
5 minutes
- Project Slide 8: Your Power! and lead a closing circle.
- Ask students: 'What's one thing you learned about media and body image today?' 'What's one thing you can do when you see unrealistic images online?'
- Present Slide 9: Take the Pledge! and invite students to make a personal 'Media-Free Pledge' silently or by sharing one small action they can take (e.g., 'I will remind myself that filters aren't real,' 'I will focus on what I like about myself').
- Collect the Media Detective Worksheet.
- End with a Cool Down: One Word Reflection to gauge understanding and feelings.
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Slide Deck
More Than a Pretty Face
Decoding Media Messages
What do you see when you scroll?
Welcome students and introduce the lesson topic. Ask them to think about the images they see online every day.
What Do We See Online?
When you look at social media, ads, or magazines:
- What kinds of people do you see?
- How do they look?
- Do these images always seem real to you?
Prompt students to share what kinds of images they see online, especially of people. Guide them to consider how these images are presented. Encourage participation from everyone.
Media Messages
Media is all around us! From TikTok to TV, magazines to games.
But here's a secret: Media messages are designed to make you feel or think a certain way.
Today, we're becoming Media Detectives!
Introduce the idea that media isn't always neutral. Explain that media creators have goals, like selling products or getting likes. Define 'media literacy' simply.
Unrealistic Expectations?
Media often shows us what society thinks is 'perfect' or 'beautiful.'
- This is called Beauty Standards.
- It can affect our Body Image (how we see and feel about our own bodies).
Are these images always realistic?
Explain 'body image' and 'beauty standards' in an age-appropriate way. Discuss how media often shows a very narrow idea of beauty, which can be unrealistic.
Digital Magic!
Many images we see are changed using special tools.
- Filters
- Airbrushing
- Digital Alterations
This means the person in the picture might not look like that in real life!
Briefly explain how photos can be changed or 'edited.' Mention common things like filters, airbrushing, and digital alterations. Emphasize that what we see is often not how a person truly looks.
Media Detective Time!
Get ready to use your detective skills!
We will look at some image pairs.
Can you Spot the Edit?
Look for clues: perfect skin, unnatural shapes, blurry backgrounds, glowing eyes...
Explain the 'Spot the Edit' activity. Show the pre-selected image pairs. Guide students to look for clues of digital alteration on their worksheets.
Discuss & Reflect
Now, let's talk about it!
In your groups, discuss the Real vs. Ideal Discussion Prompts.
- Share your thoughts and listen to your classmates.
- Be respectful!
Explain the group discussion activity and the discussion prompts. Remind students to be respectful of each other's opinions and feelings.
Your Power!
You are smart and critical thinkers!
- What did you learn today about media?
- What can you do when you see images that seem too 'perfect'?
Lead a closing discussion. Ask students to share one key takeaway or a strategy they can use when encountering unrealistic media images. Reiterate that they have the power to think critically.
Take the Pledge!
Think about one small thing you can do to be kind to yourself and smart about media.
- "I will remember that filters aren't real."
- "I will focus on what I like about myself."
Your Media-Free Pledge:
Encourage students to make a personal pledge to themselves. It can be a small, actionable step related to how they view or interact with media and their own body image.
Warm Up
Media Check-in: What's Your Vibe?
Instructions: Think about the last time you were scrolling through social media or saw an advertisement. Answer the questions below.
- What was one image you saw that showed a person?
- How did that image make you feel? (Circle one)
- Happy
- Inspired
- Confused
- Not good about myself
- Other:
- Do you think that image was completely real, or do you think it might have been changed in some way?
Cool Down
One Word Reflection
Instructions: Think about today's lesson on media messages and body image. In one word, describe how you feel or what you learned today.
My one word is:
Worksheet
Media Detective Worksheet / Hoja de Trabajo "Detective de Medios" / Folha de Atividades "Detetive de Mídia"
Instructions: As a media detective, you will examine pairs of images. For each pair, write down what you observe and if you think the image has been altered. Be specific!
Image Pair 1
- What do you notice about the first image? (¿Qué notas en la primera imagen? / O que você percebe na primeira imagem?)
- What do you notice about the second image? (¿Qué notas en la segunda imagen? / O que você percebe na segunda imagem?)
- Do you think one of these images has been changed or edited? If so, which one and why? (¿Crees que una de estas imágenes ha sido alterada o editada? Si es así, ¿cuál y por qué? / Você acha que uma dessas imagens foi alterada ou editada? Em caso afirmativo, qual e por quê?)
Image Pair 2
- What do you notice about the first image?
- What do you notice about the second image?
- Do you think one of these images has been changed or edited? If so, which one and why?
Image Pair 3
- What do you notice about the first image?
- What do you notice about the second image?
- Do you think one of these images has been changed or edited? If so, which one and why?
My Media Detective Badge
What is one thing you learned today about spotting media edits?
Discussion
Real vs. Ideal Discussion Prompts / Preguntas de Discusión: Real vs. Ideal / Tópicos de Discussão: Real vs. Ideal
Instructions: In your small groups, discuss the following questions. Listen to each other and share your honest thoughts.
- What does "ideal" beauty mean to you? Where do you think these ideas come from?
(¿Qué significa para ti la belleza "ideal"? ¿De dónde crees que vienen estas ideas? / O que significa "beleza ideal" para você? De onde você acha que essas ideias vêm?)
- How do the images we see online compare to what people look like in real life? Are they usually the same or different?
(¿Cómo se comparan las imágenes que vemos en línea con la apariencia de las personas en la vida real? ¿Suelen ser iguales o diferentes? / Como as imagens que vemos online se comparam com a aparência das pessoas na vida real? Elas são geralmente iguais ou diferentes?)
- Have you ever felt pressure to look a certain way because of something you saw in media? How did that make you feel?
(¿Alguna vez te has sentido presionado a lucir de cierta manera debido a algo que viste en los medios? ¿Cómo te hizo sentir eso? / Você já se sentiu pressionado a ter uma certa aparência por causa de algo que viu na mídia? Como isso te fez sentir?)
- What are some positive messages about body image or self-acceptance that you have seen or heard?
(¿Cuáles son algunos mensajes positivos sobre la imagen corporal o la autoaceptación que has visto o escuchado? / Quais são algumas mensagens positivas sobre imagem corporal ou autoaceitação que você já viu ou ouviu?)
- What advice would you give to a friend who is feeling bad about themselves after seeing something in the media?
(¿Qué consejo le darías a un amigo que se siente mal consigo mismo después de ver algo en los medios? / Que conselho você daria a um amigo que está se sentindo mal consigo mesmo depois de ver algo na mídia?)