Coaster Persuasion Mania!

Now that CST (our annual testing) is over, we have been able to really focus on technology and presentation skills. My kiddos have been busy creating inventions, products, etc., that they have to "sell" to the potential buyers (classmates). They are also responsible for preparing PowerPoint presentations. Both of these activities allow them to work on persuasion tactics when they are presenting and in further developing their oral and writing skills. I have seen a tremendous improvement and they are also a lot more confident when presenting in front of a group. My kiddos have also become better judges of what is effective and not-effective when trying to persuade an audience. They are quite equipped at identifying "quality" work and WHY it is quality work. I hope all this work will be helpful as they head on out to middle school.

I have included a slide show of their coasters as well as tow PPT's of my students.

Splash! from Bridge Street School

Silver skies from Bridge Street School

Inventions for the Future

We have begun our unit on Persuasion and I wanted to try a different approach, one that would "hook" them and that would show them how we are surrounded by persuasive tactics every day, before we jumped into our essays. I also wanted to integrate STEM-UP strategies/concepts into our learning. I began by showing them a variety of commercial clips that I found on youtube. Some were funny, some were profound, and others were just plain ridiculous.

As we watched the short clips they realized that regardless of the commercial, they were trying to convince them of something. It might be to buy something, donate to a cause, change your mind, or to influence a way of thinking. We charted out different elements (tactics) that we found in all of them. They came up with the following list:

• music/sounds that match the theme of the video
• time--urgency
• visuals, graphics
• catchy phrases
• targeted audience

I decided to let them create their own commercial with an invention they would create. In groups they discussed what they could create and used their charted tactics as guidelines. As part of their project they had to prepare three things: a PowerPoint on their invention, a model of their invention, and a live commercial in front of their peers or they also could prerecord it at home. My kiddos have been doing PowerPoints since last year, I therefore did not have to spend time teaching them the process. Their inventions had to be practical, useful, and creative. I included some pictures of their inventions, a student PowerPoint (ELL student), and a prerecorded video.

What do you do to help your students understand persuasion?

A Walk Down Spooky Ave

This month's writing project was all about haunted houses. It was a big hit! We have been working hard on the elements of persuasive writing and how it is all around us (they are beginning to dissect toy commercials and their intended audience-THEM!). Their project consisted of two parts: 1) build a haunted house using any materials they wished, but it could not be a prepackaged house. 2) Write a persuasive essay. Their goal was to find a roommate. They had to convince someone to come and rent a room from them.

 They wrote all kinds of super funny stuff. One student said they had a mummy living with them that would do all their chores for them including the laundry. Another student had a vampire for a chef that knows how to cook the most scrumptious hamburgers. Yet another student said that they had a "brainiac" bat that would do all their homework for them. I know they truly enjoyed this project, because even though it was not due until this week, they had been begging me to let them bring their projects. Yippee!-Mission accomplished-motivating them & writing with a purpose in mind. 

If you would like a copy of the forms, parent letters, graphic organizers, etc. (for FREE), simply click on the picture below. You may modify to fit your students' needs, but please do not sell it as your own.

Here are some pictures of what my kiddos did this year--totally awesome!