Grade 8 Media Test Videos and Links

Link for question # 3

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

Video for question # 4





Image for Question #5




Video for Question #5

Grade 8 Media Notes

Key Concepts for Media Literacy (source: mediasmarts.ca)

1.     Media are constructions

·         Media products are created by individuals who make conscious and unconscious choices about what to include, what to leave out and how to present what is included.

·         These decisions are based on the creators’ own point of view, which will have been shaped by their opinions, assumptions and biases – as well as media they have been exposed to.

·         As a result of this, media products are never entirely accurate reflections of the real world – even the most objective documentary filmmaker has to decide what footage to use and what to cut, as well as where to put the camera – but we instinctively view many media products as direct representations of what is real.

Ask:

·         Who created this media product?

·         What is its purpose?

·         What assumptions or beliefs do its creators have that are reflected in the content?

2. Audiences negotiate meaning

·         The meaning of any media product is not created solely by its producers but is, instead, collaboration between them and the audience – which means that different audiences can take away different meanings from the same product.

·         Media literacy encourages us to understand how individual factors, such as age, gender; race and social status affect our interpretations of media.

Ask:

·         How might different people see this media product differently?

·         How does this make you feel, based on how similar or different you are from the people portrayed in the media product?

3. Media have commercial implications

·         Most media production is a business and must, therefore, make a profit. In addition, media industries belong to a powerful network of corporations that exert influence on content and distribution.

·         Questions of ownership and control are central – a relatively small number of individuals control what we watch, read and hear in the media.

·         Even in cases where media content is not made for profit – such as YouTube videos and Facebook posts – the ways in which content is distributed are nearly always run with profit in mind.

Ask:

• What is the commercial purpose of this media product (in other words, how will it help someone make money)?
• How does this influence the content and how it’s communicated?
• If no commercial purpose can be found, what other purposes might the media product have (for instance, to get attention for its creator or to convince audiences of a particular point of view).

4. Media have social and political implications

·         Media convey ideological messages about values, power and authority.

·          In media literacy, what or who is absent may be more important than what or who is included.

·         These messages may be the result of conscious decisions, but more often they are the result of unconscious biases and unquestioned assumptions – and they can have a significant influence on what we think and believe.

·         As a result, media have great influence on politics and on forming social change. 

·         TV news coverage and advertising can greatly influence the election of a national leader on the basis of image; representations of world issues, both in journalism and fiction, can affect how much attention they receive; and society’s views towards different groups can be directly influenced by how – and how often – they appear in media.

Ask:

• Who and what is shown in a positive light? In a negative light?
• Why might these people and things be shown this way?
• Who and what is not shown at all?
• What conclusions might audiences draw based on these facts?

5. Each medium has a unique aesthetic form

·         The content of media depends in part on the nature of the medium.

·         This includes the technical, commercial and storytelling demands of each medium: for instance, the interactive nature of video games leads to different forms of storytelling – and different demands on media creators – that are found in film and TV.

Ask:

·         What techniques does the media product use to get your attention and to communicate its message?

·         In what ways are the images in the media product manipulated through various techniques (for example: lighting, makeup, camera angle, photo manipulation)?

What are the expectations of the genre (for example: print advertising, TV drama, music video) towards its

Grade 8 Media Lesson #6

Follow the following link to access the advertisements used in this lesson:

https://www.behance.net/gallery/get-a-load-of-milk/774437

Answer the following questions based on the selected ads:

Media literacy key concepts Lesson 6: Each medium has a unique aesthetic form

1.     What is the purpose of these media products?

2.     What message is being conveyed?

3.     How is the message communicated?

4.     What do the ads in the different media have in common?

5.     What tools are available in one medium and not another?

6.     What medium do you think was the most effective for this purpose and message?  Why?

The Scientific Method Study Guide

The Scientific Method Test Study Guide

1.       Review the lab guideline: You should know the order of steps and what is included in each part of the lab

2.       Review how to properly format a hypothesis; remember a hypothesis needs to be testable!

3.       Review the difference between qualitative and quantitative observations; you should also know why our observations should be as accurate and objective as possible

4.       Review the differences between observations and inferences

5.       Review the three types of variables: independent, dependent and controlled variables

6.       You will be provided a science lab scenario to read; you will be required to answer questions related to the scientific method based on the scenario

Observations and Inferences Video

A background about observations and inferences

Pop Rocks Lab - Background Information Video

Follow this link for the video.

http://youtu.be/vIf6Y89VF4U

GRADE 8 ENGLISH: Media Task

Media are Constructions Activity

1.       Watch the first commercial listed below and identify all of the “parts” of the commercial.

Consider the following list:

·         Logo

·         Image of the cereal

·         Image of other food along with the cereal (fruit, etc.)

·         Slogans

·         Mascot

·         Nutritional information

·         Contests

·         Premiums (prizes or toys that come with the cereal)

·         Activities

·         Health claims

·         Connections to other media content (TV shows, etc.)

·         Humour

·         Jingles

·         Music

·         Any other parts you consider relevant

2.       Once you have identified the different parts, discuss what purpose each one serves e.g., creating an appealing character for kids etc.

3.       Now watch the second commercial and follow the same process.

4.       Who do you believe is the intended audience of each commercial? What evidence do you have to support your choices?

Commercial #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpqi8a8Myy0

Commercial #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ_wZayDjVs