Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grade 4-6 (ages 9-11)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to critically examine different societal ideals reflected in the types of images found in popular magazines and how these images do not reflect the diversity and uniqueness of human beings in real life. As human beings, most of us do not conform to the standards deemed to be “ideal” by society and we shouldn’t have to. The main message is for all of us to embrace our uniqueness and celebrate our diversity. A discussion about the potentially harmful effects of conforming to stereotypical ideals will also take place.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

• Copies of Magazine Matrix handout
• Magazines (1-2 for each small group of 3-4 children)
• Scissors
• Glue sticks

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Gather all materials to be used

Task Time: 50 min to 1 hour

• Introduce activity to whole class
• Small group work
• Whole class discussion

Activity Description:

 Opening Discussion:

1.       Tell the class that they will be looking through some magazines in small groups to see if they can find images described in the Magazine Matrix

2.       Ask the  class what images they typically see in magazines or on magazine covers (e.g., when they are at the grocery checkout with their parents)

3.       Show the class the Magazine Matrix and go through each category. Ask them for some predictions of what images they think they will be able to find easily and which ones would be more difficult to find

Activity:

4.       Divide class into small groups and provide each group with a copy of the Magazine Matrix. Tell the group that they are welcome to cut the Magazine Matrix up and to paste each category at the top of a piece of paper and then glue corresponding images to those categories to form a collage. Another option is to cut out images and paper clip them to the corresponding category

5.       Give the small groups about 20-30 minutes to work on their Magazine Matrix. Circulate and check in with each group during this time and tell them that they will briefly present what they find during the whole class discussion

Wrap-up Discussion/Presentations:

6.       Gather the whole class back on the carpet for a discussion

7.       Have each small group briefly present their images and share what they found easily and what categories they had difficulty finding images for

8.       Once all the small groups have presented, engage the whole class in a discussion:

• Did the results of your Magazine Matrix exploration match your predictions at the beginning of the activity?
• Was there anything you found surprising? Not surprising?
• Do you think the images you found in the magazines accurately reflect what we all look like? Why or why not?
• What kinds of qualities do these images show the media as valuing?
• How do the images we see in the media (e.g., magazines, social media, TV/movies) affect our self-esteem?
• When we see unrealistic images in the media that may make us feel bad about ourselves, what are some things we can say/do to help boost our self-esteem?
• What are some images we would like to see more of in the media that would be more representative of all kinds of people?

9.       To wrap up, emphasize the importance of accepting our own uniqueness and the diversity of all people. We are all different and alike in diverse ways and how we feel about ourselves should not be determined by an unrealistic “ideal” set by the media

Potential Adaptations:

• Explain each Magazine Matrix category and instructions to ELL Learners beforehand
• Allow individuals from different cultural backgrounds to share how ideals in their cultures might differ from Western ideals and what their magazines might look like

Activity Extensions:

Boosting one’s self-esteem is also about ensuring one has a voice and can be heard. Children can choose to write letters to the editors of magazines they have chosen in protest of the lack of diversity in images

Additional Comments:

• Western magazines may not always reflect cultural diversity. Try to find magazines that has some diversity in it. Also, the lack of cultural diversity can become an important discussion point
• Because this activity is exploring the sensitive issue of stereotypical ideals portrayed in media, it is imperative that children are not shamed for sharing that they try to live up to these “ideals”. Therefore, although we want to raise awareness that these stereotypes exist, we are not communicating these are bad. Rather the message should be more along the lines of encouraging children to form their own positive self-images and what elements they want to include in them are not up to anyone else but the children themselves

Additional Resources:

• Link to Magazine Matrix
• Please feel free to review over the Self-esteem Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here