Week 28 · Axis 4, Chapter 3 Connecting with Community (A) · 3 lessons
3
A message for the public
Discover P3 Term 2: Axis 4, Chapter 3
GoalSay what makes a public service message clear, true and caring, and plan one with a slogan.
New words
public service message · a short message that helps people stay safe, healthy or kind to the environmentslogan · a short phrase that is easy to rememberclear · easy to understand at oncesympathise · to understand and care about how someone else feels
Explanation
A public service message is a short message for everyone that helps people stay safe, stay healthy or look after the environment. We see them on posters, in newspapers and on radio and TV. A good message has three goals. It is clear and easy to understand. It is supported by facts, so people can trust it. And it makes the audience care about the people it affects. For example, take a message about bicycle helmets. A clear message is “Wear a helmet when you ride.” A fact is that a helmet protects your head if you fall. A caring line is “Your family wants you safe.” To plan a message, choose a topic, think of the audience, write one clear sentence, add one true fact, and make a slogan. Draw a picture. Ask a friend for feedback: Is it clear? Is the fact right? Do I care? Then make the final copy and send it, for example as a poster in the school corridor, with permission, or in the class newspaper. A good message does not frighten people or make fun of anyone.
Goal
Question to ask
clear
Can everyone understand it at once?
facts
Is it true? Is there a fact to support it?
caring
Does it make people think of those it affects?
Worked examples
Topic
Message
Fact
Slogan
bicycle helmets
Wear a helmet when you ride.
A helmet protects your head in a fall.
Helmet on, head safe!
saving water
Turn off the tap while you brush.
A running tap wastes a lot of water.
Save a drop, share a drop!
litter
Put litter in the bin.
Litter in a canal can block the water.
Bin it, don’t drop it!
Three public service messages.
Goal
Met?
Feedback
clear
yes
short and easy to read
facts
not yet
add a fact about soap and water
caring
yes
it thinks of the whole family
Feedback on Mina’s poster draft about hand washing.
Printing posters. 8 children each make 3 posters for the school. 8 × 3 = 24 posters.
Class activity
Plan a public service message. 1) Choose a topic that matters to your class, such as water, litter, helmets or hand washing. 2) Decide who the audience is. 3) Write one clear sentence, one true fact (check it with a grown-up or a book) and a slogan. 4) Draw the poster. Do not use scary pictures or real people’s names. 5) Show it to a friend. They check the three goals: clear, facts, caring. Write their feedback and make changes. 6) Make a final copy and, with permission, put it up at school or add it to the class newspaper.
Practice
1
Which three qualities should a message for the public have?
It is clear, it is supported by facts, and it makes people care about those affected.
2
Why must a public service message be supported by facts?
So that people can trust it and know it is true.
3
Look at Karim’s poster check. Which goal is missing?
Goal
Met?
clear
yes
facts
no
caring
yes
Facts. The poster has no fact yet.
4
The class puts up 5 posters in each of 3 corridors. How many posters is that?
