1. Year 7 English: Advertising Unit
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Year 7 English: Advertising Unit
Key Question:
What are the key features of an effective product packaging?
Over the course of the unit we will be uncovering answers to numerous question as we work through the process of critically analysing and evaluating product packaging and creating our own product.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will analyse a variety of product packaging.
Students will identify several of the features used on product packaging.
Students will consider how the features of product packaging attempt to persuade the consumer to purchase the product.
These materials are © 2004 NAME, SCHOOL, all rights reserved.

2. Information Sources Next 1 2 3 4 5 6
The sources below have been included to provide you with an introduction to product packaging and its numerous features. Click on the stars to follow the links.
A YouTube clip which explores the reasons for product packaging and discusses elements of an effective product packaging.
A link to a website which provides a product packaging case study.
A Behind the News Video clip which identifies the necessary requirements for food product packaging.
A link to a brochure which explains why we have food labels and what information needs to be included on a food label.
Reference 1: YouTube clip
Marketing Goods, Services and Events 2012, ‘Product Packaging’ video, YouTube, 3 December, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 2: Product packaging case study
BSI Education year unknown, The power of packaging, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 3: Behind the News Video
Behind the News 2010, Food Labelling’, video, ABC News, 25 May, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 4: Food labelling brochure
NSW Food Authority year unknown, Food Labels, viewed 8 November 2013, <
These materials are © 2004 NAME, SCHOOL, all rights reserved.

3. Introductory Student Activity
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Introductory Student Activity
For this task you will be required to:
Select three products to analyse as you study the labels and make note of the features that are used on the packaging in your table.
2. Use the headings below to organise your information:
Product Content and Information
Product Appearance
Product Marketing
Practicality
3. You will also need to take a photograph of each item and place them in the table in your journal. You can use the table as a checklist for when you create your own product at a later date.
*Please follow the link to the PowerPoint which provides an example on how to complete your Product Packaging Analysis sheet.
For the link to the Product Packaging Analysis sheet , please click here
If the hyperlink for the Product Packaging Analysis sheet does not open then the file name is: Formative Task Analysing Product Packaging
If the hyperlink for the example PowerPoint does not open then the file name is: Product Packaging PowerPoint
For the link to the PowerPoint, please click here
These materials are © 2004 NAME, SCHOOL, all rights reserved.

4. 45. Enrichment Activities
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45. Enrichment Activities 5 6
Assessment Activity
Now that you have developed a greater understanding of the different features of product packaging and how they can be used effectively and ineffectively, its your turn to design your own product!
1 You will need to decide on a product to create which can be completely outrageous but should still be original.
2. View the ‘Designing individual products’ PowerPoint and assessment rubric.
3. Ensure you fill out all the sections of the product planning sheet so you have a record of your design process. You can access the planning sheet here
4. Once you have completed the planning process you can create your product label using various computer programs.
If the hyperlink for the PowerPoint does not open then the file is named: Designing individual products PowerPoint
If the hyperlink for the assessment rubric does not open then the file is named: Product packaging assessment rubric
If the Product planning sheet does not open then the file is named: Individual product planning sheet
These materials are © 2004 NAME, SCHOOL, all rights reserved.

5. Additional information
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Additional information
If you are interested in learning more about product packaging and advertising then click on the pictures below to follow the links.
The Checkout: Episode 3
The Checkout: Episode 1
The Gruen Transfer: this episode discusses the effects of plain product packaging
The Checkout: Episode 2
‘The Checkout’ episodes feature Julian Morrow and Craig Reucassel from The Chaser team as they reinvent consumer affairs TV in a new show that will inform, entertain and empower ordinary consumers.
Reference 1: The Checkout episode 1
The Chaser Team 2013, ‘The Checkout-Episode 1’, video, YouTube, 21 March, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 2: The Checkout episode 2
The Chaser Team 2013, ‘The Checkout-Episode 2’, video, YouTube, 21 March, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 3: The Checkout episode 3
The Chaser Team 2013, ‘The Checkout-Episode 2’, video, YouTube, 21 March, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 4: The Gruen Transfer
The Gruen Transfer 2010, ‘Ad Crunch: Plain Packaging’, video, YouTube, 27 September, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Reference 5: Hungry Beast
Hungry Beast 2010, ‘Product DISplacement’, video, YouTube, 10 March, viewed 8 November 2013, <
Hungry Beast and Product Placement: This brief video explains the concept of product placement which occurs during numerous television shows and movies
These materials are © 2004 NAME, SCHOOL, all rights reserved.

6. Teacher Support Materials1 2 3 4 5 6
ACARA Links
Year 7 English Content Descriptors
Text structure and organisation
Understand and explain how the text structures and language features of texts become more complex in informative and persuasive texts. (ACELA1531)
Interpreting, analysing, evaluating
Analyse and explain the ways text structures and language features shape meaning and vary according to audience and purpose (ACELY1721)
Use comprehension strategies to interpret, analyse and synthesise ideas and information, critiquing ideas and issues from a variety of textual sources (ACELY1723)
Creating texts
Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, selecting aspects of subject matter and particular language, visual, and audio features to convey information and ideas (ACELY1725)
Use a range of software, including word processing programs, to confidently create, edit and publish written and multimodal texts (ACELY1728)
Although this Advertising Unit which focuses on the dimension of Product Packaging has been designed for the English Curriculum, it could easily be adapted to suit a Home Economics, Science or Maths Curriculum for a similar year level.
In addition, this unit of work could be further extended to engage students in a detailed analysis of magazine and television advertisements. This would enable students to successfully discuss the similarities and differences that exist between these two mediums and product packaging. A unit of work analysing magazine and television advertisements could lead into an assessment task where students create either a magazine or television advertisement for their own original product.
Reference: ACARA
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2013, English, viewed 8 November 2013, retrieved from, <