Home›Lesson Plans›English Language Arts›Media Literacy · Grade 5

Propaganda Techniques

Fifth graders learn the persuasion tricks used in ads and messages — bandwagon, testimonials, repetition, emotional words, and expert appeals. Naming a technique is the first step to not being fooled by it.

Grade 5Propaganda Techniques45 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name propaganda techniques.
  • ✓Spot each trick.
  • ✓See how they persuade.
  • ✓Think for yourself.
Essential Question

Ads and messages use clever tricks to persuade you. What are the common propaganda techniques — and how do you spot them?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Propaganda Techniques Explorer

Project this and tap each. Have students learn the common propaganda and persuasion techniques.

📣 Explore propaganda techniques — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Literacy Flow (Hook · Explore · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Persuasion Tricks

5 min

Ads use clever tricks to persuade you — what are the common techniques?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a “everyone loves it!” ad.
  • Ask what trick it uses.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Think.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — Propaganda Techniques

12 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Propaganda Explorer.
  • Present each technique.
  • Note how it persuades.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

12 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a technique.
  • Give an example.
  • Explain the trick.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Give it.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

10 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Analyze three ads.
  • Name each technique.
  • Share your answers.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Analyze.
  • Name it.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a technique.
  • Give an example.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Give one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core ELA Standards (informational literacy) & NAMLE media-literacy competencies.

CCSS
RI.5.8

Explain reasons & evidence.

CCSS
RI.5.6

Analyze point of view.

NAMLE
Analyze

Identify persuasion techniques.

CCSS
SL.5.3

Evaluate a speaker’s reasoning.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Technique cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This uses ___.”
  • Use real ads.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with bandwagon & repetition.
  • Use pictures.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find techniques in real ads.
  • Design an honest ad.
  • Combine two techniques.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 📣Technique cards
  • 💻The Propaganda Explorer
  • 📰Sample ads
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

propagandamessages made to persuadepersuasiontrying to convincebandwagoneveryone’s doing ittestimoniala famous endorsementrepetitionsaying it over & overemotional wordswords that make you feelexpert appealusing an expert to convincetechniquea method or trick
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is the bandwagon technique?
Saying “everyone is doing it, so you should too.”
QUESTION 2
What is a testimonial?
Using a famous person or happy customer to praise a product.
QUESTION 3
Why do ads use emotional words?
To make you feel something instead of thinking it through.

Reflect: propaganda techniques.

Have students name one propaganda technique and give an example. A printable propaganda sheet is in the ELA library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Propaganda TechniquesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Propaganda TechniquesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Propaganda TechniquesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: bandwagon, emotional words, expert appeal, persuasion, propaganda, repetition, technique, testimonial
  1. words that make you feel
  2. a famous endorsement
  3. everyone’s doing it
  4. trying to convince
  5. using an expert to convince
  6. messages made to persuade
  7. saying it over & over
  8. a method or trick

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is the bandwagon technique?
  2. What is a testimonial?
  3. Why do ads use emotional words?
Answer key — Part A: 1) emotional words · 2) testimonial · 3) bandwagon · 4) persuasion · 5) expert appeal · 6) propaganda · 7) repetition · 8) technique
Part B: 1) Saying “everyone is doing it, so you should too.” 2) Using a famous person or happy customer to praise a product. 3) To make you feel something instead of thinking it through.