Session 1 · TRACE: Accounts
Fact, opinion or belief?
- 10 minWarm-up: fact, opinion or belief? 'The skate park will cost $400,000.' 'The skate park is a waste of money.' 'Young people deserve places to play.'
- 20 minNews sort: in pairs, read three sources about the live decision (a council summary, a news story and a letter to the editor or community post). Highlight facts in one colour and opinions in another.
- 15 minCheck the facts: find one number in the news story and check it against the council's own document. Did they match? Why might they not?
- 5 minExit card: what makes a source trustworthy enough to use in your submission?
Session 2 · TRACE: Accounts
Advert autopsy
- 10 minEvery advert is an account with a purpose. Who made it, and what do they want you to do?
- 20 minAutopsy: look at three adverts, including one influencer post and one in-game shop screen. Label the tricks: countdown timers, 'only 2 left', celebrity use, free trials, bright 'buy' buttons, hidden costs, loot boxes.
- 15 minThe rules: New Zealand advertising rules say influencers must make it clear when a post is an advert, and ads for children must not exploit them. Rewrite one advert so it is honest.
- 5 minAdd three 'pressure tricks' to the Money Smarts guide.
Getting started
Use the source-detective card and a fact/opinion highlighter key with examples.
Stretch
Compare two news sources on the same council decision and explain how the headline and photo choice change the way you feel about it.
Checkpoint
Each student can separate a fact from an opinion in a real source and name three ways adverts pressure people to buy.
Activities for this week
- Fact or opinion? News sort: Which information about our council decision can we trust?
- Advert autopsy: How do adverts, apps and influencers try to make us spend?
Useful this week
- Advertising codes ↗ The rules adverts in New Zealand must follow, including ads aimed at young people.