Jefferson Fourth-Graders Get Media Savvy

This was written by Abigail C. Baker

Fourth graders in Deborah Bialer and Anna Kasbo’s classes at Jefferson School know their way around an advertisement. The two classes added to their knowledge of advertising techniques and marketing strategies in a mini-unit led by Charlie Baker’s mother, Marcia Worth-Baker.  The students were assisted by Charlie’s brother, Jefferson School alumnus James Baker.

Using advertisements from magazines such as Parenting, Good Housekeeping, Ebony, and Latina, fourth graders identifies techniques such as “celebrity endorsement,” and “looks like fun.”

Students then created their own marketing campaign for cereals they invented. Products headed for a supermarket near you include Super Sweet Snowballs and Marshmallow Maniacs.

“We can sell anything,” said Livvy K., in 4B. “We know how to appeal to kids, and how to convince their parents to go shopping.”