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Lesson · Grade 6 · Social Studies

Propaganda: how it persuades

  • Grade 6
  • Social Studies
  • 1 min
  • British Columbia
  • BC6-SS-21

A made-up poster in the style of old wartime posters builds up step by step: a slogan, a flag beside a storm cloud, a crowd and a call to join the army. Four common tricks are then labelled with arrows to the poster: a short slogan repeated many times, strong feelings of fear and pride, joining the crowd, and showing only one side. The same poster then moves onto a TV and a phone, since these tricks spread there today too.

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In one sentence

The question this lesson answers

What is propaganda, and how does it persuade people?

Propaganda is a message spread to push many people to think or act one way.

Transcript

What the lesson says

What is propaganda, and how does it persuade people?

Propaganda is a message spread to push many people to think or act one way.

This made-up poster is like the ones many governments used in the world wars.

It uses four common tricks to persuade people.

First, it uses a short slogan and repeats it many times.

Second, it stirs up strong feelings, like fear of danger and pride in your country.

Third, it says everyone is doing it, so you should join the crowd.

Fourth, it shows only one side and leaves out the risks.

Today, the same tricks spread on TV and online too.

Spotting these tricks helps you make up your own mind.

Propaganda often uses slogans, strong feelings, the crowd and only one side to persuade.

Curriculum

Where this fits

British Columbia, Grade 6

Social Studies, Global issues: media technologies and coverage of current eventsBC6-SS-21

Previous: Bias and Sensationalism: One Story, Three HeadlinesNext: How News and Rumours Spread on Social Media

The outcomes and strands follow the British Columbia curriculum.

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