Kids / Students
Medialit4U Presentations
Pre-Adolescent – Ages 11-14
Media Mania
When 80 percent of children are visual learners, it’s imperative that we ask, "What are they learning from what they see?" Powerful messages come from media. Do kids have a right to commercial-free space? How is their public health impacted by media? With practiced deconstruction skills, kids can learn the methods that are used to get them to buy, the difference between needs and wants, and the consequences of living in a consumer-based culture. Special attention is given to sexualization and violence, with discussion focusing on how to get out of the box of stereotyped gender roles.
When does appearance become important to kids? How are the current sexualized styles affecting kids? With trends that shift in a matter of weeks and with targeted marketing campaigns, children face more pressure today that ever before to keep up with appearances. This presentation focuses on deconstructing the messages of constant consumption and the continual assessment of body image. The group will discuss the implications of porn making its way into pop culture and what we can do to support the development of healthy self-esteem for our children.
As children grow up with the message that violence is the means to solving problems, more and more of them are exposed to fights on a regular basis. Using excerpts from Jackson Katz’ “Tough Guise” video, and other media examples, we will look at where the violent culture comes from, who is harmed by it, and generate awareness about how to recognize the messages that incite this kind of behavior. An extended workshop is available to support kids to identify their school as a peace zone and design a group mural that reminds people of this distinction.*
*Based on “Kids as Peacemakers” curriculum
What Are You Doing on the Internet?
Whether it's gaming, email, social networking, shopping, or exploring, kids are participating in many different ways on-line. Unfortunately, very few of them are having discussions about how to behave in this new world. This workshop will focus on how the brain is effected by gaming and other media, what draws kids in, sexual and violent content, and the amount of time that is spent on-line. Kids will learn how to deconstruct a web-site, looking for clues that tell them what's going on behind the cool graphics and animation.
Presentations offer students and kids another perspective to understanding what is happening in our culture and ways of addressing the issues. All presentations are interactive and include the opportunity for discussion. The length and content can be modified to meet the needs of the organization or group. Contact us for more details!