Lesson 11:

Influencing attitudesLearning objectives

Understandthatourattitudescanbeaffectedbyexternalinfluences.

Beabletorecognisehowmyattitudesandopinionsareinfluenced.

Subject links

Citizenship PSHEE English History RE

Resources

Slides:Lesson11 Worksheets:

12-Diamond941-Headlinewriters

OverviewDuring this lesson students start to think about how their attitudes and opinions are influenced. They learn how newspapers can sensationalise facts and also get information wrong. They discuss how this can impact on our own attitudes and wider society. Finally they consider the importance of developing their own understanding and finding out the facts, so they can be confident in their own ideas and opinions.

Starter Activity 1 (5mins): Power of advertising (Slides 3-5)Playthecokeadvert:“I’dliketobuytheworldaCoke”:www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfU17niXOG8Usetheslidestodiscusshowadvertisingimpactsonourattitudes,behaviourandlifestylechoices.Introducethelearningobjectives.

MainActivity 2 (5mins): Two minute challenge (Slide 6)Inpairs,studentslistasmanythingsastheycanthatinfluencepeopletodoorthinksomethinge.g.friends,personalexperience,magazines.Shareasaclass,goingroundandnotallowingrepetition.

Activity 3 (5-10mins): Diamond 9 (Slides 7-8)UsingWorksheet12,createandcutoutninecardsthatfeaturedifferentexternalinfluences.Studentsareaskedtorankthemintoadiamondshape;withthemostimportantcharacteristicatthetoppointandleastimportantatthebottom(seetheslideforanexample).Firsttheyrankindividuallyundertimedconditions,thengroupthemintopairsandtheyhavetoagreeontheranking,thengroupinto4sandtheyhavetoagreeagain.Discusswhichhasthegreatestinfluence.Aretheseinfluencesgoodorbad?

Activity 4 (10mins): Headliners (Slides 9-16)Studentsworkinteams.Usingtheslides,presentthreedifferentheadlinesreportingthesameissue.Onewillberealandtwoarespoofs.Students’recordwhichonetheythinkisreal.Repeatthisthreetimesintotalwithdifferentheadlines.Revealtheanswersandawardstudentsapointforeachcorrectanswer.Discusshowthesensationalisedandnegativeheadlines,impactouropinionsandattitudes?Whatbehaviourcouldthisleadtoinsociety?Linkstotheoriginalheadlinescanbefoundinthefurtherinformationsection.

Activity 5 (15mins): Headline writers (Slide 17)Groupinpairs.Studentsarerequiredtocreatetheirownheadlines.Onewillbesensationalisedandcreateanegativeattitude,andonewillbebasedonfactprovidingabalancedview.Youcouldusethearticleonworksheet41whichreportssomestudentprotests.Whencreatingasensationalisedheadline,theyshouldcreateanegativeviewofthestudentsinthenewsarticle.Choosesomestudentstopresenttheirheadlinesanddiscusshowtheywouldinfluenceattitudes.Youcouldincludepeerassessment.

Lesson 11:

Influencing attitudesActivity 6 (10mins): Fact and fiction (Slides 18-27)Usingtheslides,presentheadlineswhichportrayanegativeandinaccurateimageofhumanrights.Discusswhatimagetheyportrayandhowtheywouldimpactonattitudes.Thenhighlighthowthesearticlesareactuallyincorrect.Whatisthedangerofreportinginaccuratenews?Whywouldsomenewspapersdothis?Highlighttheimportanceofunderstandingthefactsandnotbelievingeverythingyouread.Youcouldaskstudentstosuggestalternativefactualheadlines.

PlenaryActivity 7 (5mins): Rumours and opinion (Slides 28-31)Usetheslidestopromotetheimportanceoffindingoutthefactswhenformingourownopinionsandideas.Considerrumoursaboutfriends.Aretheysensationalisedinthesamewayjournalistsexaggeratethenews?Howdoesthatimpactonpeople’sattitudese.g.argumentsandbullying.Highlightthatwhentheyhaveagoodunderstandingofdifferentthings,andfindoutthefacts,theycanfeelconfidentintheirownconclusionsandcanavoidactinginaprejudicialordiscriminatoryway.

Support notesExtension/homework/extra activity ideasUse these ideas as inspiration for alternative, differentiation or homework activities, or to develop learning in other subjects or lessons.Extension / homework / extra activity ideasUsetheseideasasinspirationforalternative,differentiationorhomeworkactivities,ortodeveloplearninginothersubjectsorlessons.

Extension 1: Born racist or homophobic? Discusswhetherpeoplearebornracistorhomophobic.Whatmightinfluencetheirattitudes?Explore:upbringing,attitudesofparentsandfamily,personalexperience,negativeexperiences,media,friends,fearoftheunknownandlackofunderstanding,intolerance,arrogance,work,clubsetc.

Extension 2: Sensationalising extremism Sourcenewspaperarticlesandheadlinesthatpromoteanegativeattitudetowardsreligione.g.Islamophobia.Howdoesthemediainfluencetheseattitudes?Aretheyjustifiedorsensationalised?Whatproblemscouldthiscauseforsociety?

Extension 3: World war propagandaExtendlearningtoshowhowattitudeshavebeenpowerfullyinfluencedbytheGovernmentthroughouthistorybysourcingpropagandamedia.Howdoesthisinfluenceattitudes,whatproblemsdoesitcauseandhowdoesitcomparetopropagandaweseeinpaperstoday?

Useful links/further information

VisittheusefulinformationsectionofEqualRights,EqualRespecttoaccessthisinformation:www.equalityhumanrights.com/equalrightsequalrespect/usefulinformation Background to equality and human rights-backgroundinformationtodiscriminationandhumanrights.

Equality and human rights case studies-providefurthercasestudiesandstimuliforstudentstoproducenewsarticlesandheadlines.

Glossary-glossaryofkeywords.

VisitthetrainingsectionofEqualRights,EqualRespecttoaccessthisinformation:www.equalityhumanrights.com/equalrightsequalrespect/training Equality and human rights training video -trainingtipsfordeliveringequalityandhumanrightseducation.

Activity4articlelinks: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-491707/Britons-squeezed-workforce-foreigners-says-Treasury.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1290047/Metropolitan-Police-crime-statistics-reveal-violent-criminals-black--victims.html

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-386874/Teenage-girls-control.html

Lesson 11:

Influencing attitudesExtension 4: Influencing attitudes onlineDiscusshowonlinenewsandblogsinfluenceattitudes.Highlightthatnewspaperforumsaremoderated.Whywouldtheydothis?Wouldthiscreateabiasedview?Ifcommentspostedbythepublicaremoderated,whoownsthepowerofthismedia?Howcanblogsinfluenceattitudes?ExploretheimpactofwebsitessuchasWikileaks.IsthereleaseofGovernmentinformationthroughthesechannelsagoodorbadthing?Howwoulditimpactonourattitudes?

Differentiation ideas Differentiationbyoutcome.

Prior learning Understandingofhumanrightsisrequiredforactivity6(Lessons8-10). Understandingofprejudice,stereotypesanddiscriminationarerequiredtodiscusstheimpactofnegativeexternalinfluences(Lessons5-6).

Preparation and planning YouwillneedtocutouttheDiamond9cardssoeachstudenthasninecards.Anexampleisprovidedontheslides.

Photocopyenoughcopiesoftheworksheetsforyourstudents.