Public Service Announcement Unit Plan

FRIT-8530
Technology Integrated Unit

Arlene H. Dawson
Summer 2010
 FRIT-8530 Arlene Dawson
Lesson Topic: Public Service Announcement Grade
level: _7__
Length of lesson: ___5 days_______

Stage 1 – Desired Results

Content Standard(s):
ELA7LSV2 The student listens to and views various forms of text and media
in order to gather and share information, persuade others, and express and
understand ideas. The student will select and critically analyze messages using
rubrics as assessment tools.
When responding to visual and oral texts and media (e.g., television, radio,
film productions, and electronic media), the student:
a. Analyzes the effect on the viewer of image, text, and sound in electronic journalism.
b. Identifies the techniques used to achieve the effects studied in each instance.
When delivering and responding to presentations, the student:
a. Gives oral presentations or dramatic interpretations for various purposes.
b. Organizes information to achieve particular purposes and to appeal to the
background and interests of the audience.
c. Shows appropriate changes in delivery (e.g., gestures, vocabulary, pace, visuals).
d. Uses language for dramatic effect.
e. Uses rubrics as assessment tools.
f. Responds to oral communications with questions, challenges, or affirmations.
g. Uses multimedia in presentations.
ELA7R1 The student demonstrates comprehension and shows evidence of a warranted
and responsible explanation of a variety of literary and informational texts. For
informational texts, the student reads and comprehends in order to
develop understanding and expertise and produces evidence of reading that:
d. Recognizes and traces the development of the author’s argument for and against an
issue.
e. Identifies evidence used to support an argument.
ELA7W1 The student produces writing that establishes an appropriate organizational
structure, sets a context and engages the reader, maintains a coherent
focus throughout, and provides a satisfying closure. The student
a. Selects a focus, an organizational structure, and a point of view based on purpose,
genre expectations, audience, length, and format requirements.
b. Writes texts of a length appropriate to address the topic or tell the story.
c. Uses traditional structures for conveying information (e.g., chronological
order, cause and effect, similarity and difference, and posing and answering a
question).
d. Uses appropriate structures to ensure coherence (e.g., transition elements).
e. Supports statements and claims with anecdotes, descriptions, facts and statistics,
and specific examples.
ELA7W3 The student uses research and technology to support writing. The student
a. Identifies topics, asks and evaluates questions, and develops ideas leading to inquiry,
investigation, and research.
b. Gives credit for both quoted and paraphrased information in a bibliography by using a
consistent and sanctioned format and methodology for citations.
c. Includes researched information in different types of products (e.g., compositions,
multimedia presentations, graphic organizers, projects, etc.).
d. Documents sources.
e. Uses electronic media to locate relevant information.

Understanding (s)/goals Essential Question(s):

Students will understand:
• All forms of communication share
some common features: capturing
and engaging the audience,
establishing the speaker’s voice,
and effectively using structure or
order to deliver information.
• Learning is enhanced when we use
effective speaking, listening, and
presentation skills in our
communication with others.
• Creativity takes a myriad of forms
and expressions.
• Different audiences respond
differently to the way information is
presented.
• Why do human beings feel the need
to communicate ideas to others?
• How and when can you use
persuasive techniques to present
information to others?
• What are public service
announcements?
• Why are public service
announcements important?
• What are the characteristics of an
effective public service
announcement?

Student objectives (outcomes):

Students will be able to:
• Plan and deliver a public service announcement.

1. Use appropriate planning skills to develop a public service announcement

by focusing on an issue of public concern.
2. Develop and revise a script for a public service announcement to target an
audience and gain attention, present a clear message, incorporate various
media, and conclude with a restatement of message and call to action.
3. Use print, visuals, and sound to deliver a message.
4. Reflect and evaluate one’s writing process and public service announcement.

Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence

Performance Task(s): Other Evidence:
• Script or • Daily observation
storyboard of PSA • Topic selection notification
• Public Service Announcement • Evaluation and revision of PSA
presentation • Self-assessment and reflection
 Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities:

Day 1

Students will watch a video podcast introducing the unit on developing public service
announcements. Students will watch various examples of historic and award winning
public service announcements downloaded from the web
(http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=61 ). Students will be allowed to ask
questions about public service announcements, make comments, and reflect on
characteristics of each. Groups will be assigned or allow students to form pairs for the
assignment. Students will meet in pairs to brain storm on possible topics for group public
service announcements by focusing on a problem they have experienced or have a deep
interest in. Students should decide on final topic by end of class, or further brainstorm
and communicate with each other for homework. Final topic due on day 2. Evaluation
Rubric will be provided online on the teacher’s class web page and a hard copy will be
posted in the classroom.

Day 2

Students will complete note card with name, partner’s name, topic of the public service
announcement to be worked on, and possible form of PSA. Students will research topic
by using an online browser or visiting the media center. Students will be advised to
gather facts, examples, and reasons for educating their audience about their topic.
Students reminded of previous research skills: consult more than one source, look for
timely information, and be careful of bias views or sources that do not present more than
one view. Students should have at least three sources from reputable newspapers,
magazines, journals, and web sites. Place notes or information in a folder. Homework or
ELT (Extended Learning Time class) -Students should contact each other and decide on a
format for the public service announcement (video or PowerPoint).

Day 3

Students will view teacher podcast on the various components of a public service
announcement as a whole class presentation. Using their notes, students will develop a
script or story board of their public service announcement. Students should list needed
visual aids (book magazine illustrations, posters, photographs, slides); audio aids (music,
audiotapes of voices or other sound effects); and video aids (camcorder, PowerPoint
program) Students may use notebook paper or note cards to develop their PSA script or
storyboard.

Day 4
Students will continue to work on and develop their public service announcements.
When students complete initial camcorder video or PowerPoint of their public service
announcements, students will use a revision checklist textbook to evaluate their PSA.
Students will make appropriate revisions.

Day 5

Students will present final public service announcements to their class. Students will self-
assess and reflect on the PSA assignment and product.

Follow up Activities:

 Students can submit videos and PowerPoint presentations to the Stephenson

Middle School Jag TV to share with a school-wide audience.

 Students can vote on the top three public service announcement produced in the
class, research competitions for public service announcements, and submit the top
three for consideration.

SOURCES:
Ad Council (n.d.) Historical campaigns. Retrieved from
http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=61
Ad council (n.d). Educational resources. Retrieved from
http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=595
Elements of literature (2007). Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Innovative Video in Education (n.d.) Retrieved from
http://www.ivieawards.org/categories/psa/psa.html
Schrock, Kathy (2006). Using public service announcements in the classroom. Retrieved
from http://kathyschrock.net/psa/
WREK- PSA examples ( 1999). Net good, bad, and ugly PSAs. Retrieved from
http://www.cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/wrek/psa-examples.html#toc_anchor_3