Home›Lesson Plans›English Language Arts›Media Literacy · Grade 9

The Attention Economy

Ninth graders learn how the “attention economy” works — many free apps earn money by keeping you looking as long as possible, using engagement design like endless scroll and autoplay. Understanding the business model helps you take back control.

Grade 9The Attention Economy55 minutes1 class periodMedia Literacy · CCSSExplicit teaching4 StandardsCCSS / NAMLE
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain the attention economy.
  • ✓Spot engagement design.
  • ✓See who profits.
  • ✓Take control.
Essential Question

Why is that app free — and why is it so hard to put down? Welcome to the attention economy. How does it work?

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

The Attention Economy Explorer

Project this and tap each. Have students learn how the attention economy works.

👀 Explore the attention economy — tap eachTry it

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

55 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Why Is It Free?

6 min

Why is that app free and so hard to put down? The attention economy — how?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show an endless feed.
  • Ask how it makes money.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Explore — The Attention Economy

13 min

Students explore.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Explorer.
  • Present each idea.
  • Note taking control.

🎒 Student Actions

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

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an engagement trick.
  • Explain the business model.
  • Explain a dark pattern.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Explain.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Audit an app you use.
  • Find its hooks.
  • Share a control you’d set.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Audit.
  • Find it.
  • Share.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Define attention economy.
  • Name a way to take control.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Name it.
  • 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.9-10.6

Analyze author’s purpose & rhetoric.

CCSS
SL.9-10.2

Analyze media motives.

NAMLE
Analyze

Understand media business models.

CCSS
RI.9-10.8

Evaluate claims & reasoning.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Concept cards.
  • Sentence frame: “This keeps me on by ___.”
  • Use examples.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “your attention is sold.”
  • Use one example.
  • Discuss one idea.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Audit three apps.
  • Explain dark patterns.
  • Design ethical features.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 👀Concept cards
  • 💻The Attention Economy Explorer
  • 📱App examples
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

attention economycompeting for your attentionengagementkeeping you lookingalgorithmrules that pick contentnotificationan alert to pull you backautoplayauto-starting the next videodark patterna manipulative designadvertiserwho buys your attentioncontrolchoosing your own use
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 attention economy?
A system where apps make money by keeping your attention as long as possible.
QUESTION 2
If an app is free, what is often being sold?
Your attention and data, to advertisers.
QUESTION 3
Name one way to take back control.
Turn off notifications, set limits, or choose when to log on.

Reflect: the attention economy.

Have students name one feature designed to keep them engaged and one way to take control. A printable attention-economy 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.

🃏 The Attention EconomyFlip
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.

📝 The Attention EconomyQuiz
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.

🖨️ The Attention EconomyPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: advertiser, algorithm, attention economy, autoplay, control, dark pattern, engagement, notification
  1. keeping you looking
  2. rules that pick content
  3. choosing your own use
  4. an alert to pull you back
  5. who buys your attention
  6. a manipulative design
  7. auto-starting the next video
  8. competing for your attention

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is the attention economy?
  2. If an app is free, what is often being sold?
  3. Name one way to take back control.
Answer key — Part A: 1) engagement · 2) algorithm · 3) control · 4) notification · 5) advertiser · 6) dark pattern · 7) autoplay · 8) attention economy
Part B: 1) A system where apps make money by keeping your attention as long as possible. 2) Your attention and data, to advertisers. 3) Turn off notifications, set limits, or choose when to log on.