Ad Decoder Survey Confidential Case File
AD DECODER SURVEY
7th Grade Media Literacy & Substance Prevention Campaign
Pre / Post Assessment
Student Name:
Date:
Pre: _________ Post: _________
Class Period:
How to Complete:
Read each statement below. Rate your agreement using the 4-point scale: 1 = Strongly Disagree (SD), 2 = Disagree (D), 3 = Agree (A), 4 = Strongly Agree (SA) . Use the PRE column before the lesson and the POST column after the lesson. Do not overthink; be honest!
# Survey Statement PRE-LESSON POST-LESSON 1 I can spot hidden persuasive tricks (like visual filters or peer-pressure themes) in vape and THC advertisements. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 2 I can identify health risks associated with nicotine and vaping that ads leave out (like brain changes and chemical toxins). SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 3 I understand that highly concentrated THC products carry unique mental health risks, including anxiety and paranoia. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 4 I am aware of the danger of counterfeit pills online and the high risk of deadly substances like fentanyl. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 5 I know the five steps of the decision-making model and can use them to handle peer pressure scenarios. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 6 I feel confident in my ability to use assertive verbal and non-verbal skills to refuse substances from peers. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 7 I can list at least five drug-free, healthy stress-management activities that I can easily use in my own life. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 8 I know exact phrases to use to ask a trusted adult for help if a friend is in danger or misusing drugs. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 9 I understand that peer pressure and anxiety are often the real reasons behind teen drug use, rather than choice. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4 10 I believe that knowing media tricks makes it easier for me to resist substance advertising and peer pressure. SDDASA 1 2 3 4 SDDASA 1 2 3 4
Sub-Scales: Media Literacy: 1, 2, 10 | Health Risks: 3, 4 | Self-Efficacy & Decisions: 5, 6, 8 | Alternatives: 7, 9
Total Score: Max 40 pts | Case Resolved when Post > Pre
Decoder Scoring Rubric Teacher Evaluation Tool
DECODER SCORING RUBRIC
Benchmarks, Cut Scores, & Growth Metrics for Ad Decoder Lesson
4-Point Scale
Score Calculation
Sum numeric choices (1-4) across the 10-item survey. Min score is 10, max is 40. Evaluate growth by comparing pre- and post-scores.
Target Growth Benchmark
Target: Score increase of +5 points or reaching the "Master Decoder" benchmark (31-40 pts) post-intervention.
Cut Scores & Student Profiles
Performance Level Score Student Profile Description Instructional Needs Level 4 Master Decoder 31 - 40 Strongly resistant to ad tactics. Pinpoints hidden chemical and psych risks. Demonstrates confident, assertive refusal skills and can articulate multiple help-seeking pathways. Names 5+ concrete drug-free stress busters. No immediate intervention. Ready to lead peer-modeling or assist peers. Level 3 Active Investigator 21 - 30 Spots obvious ad hooks. Recognizes core nicotine & pill risks but details on THC potency are limited. Prepares standard refusal lines but may struggle under high social pressure. Names 3-4 stress alternatives. Core curriculum. Guided rehearsal of assertive verbal & physical refusal cues. Level 2 At-Risk Observer 11 - 20 Struggles to distinguish media fantasy from facts. Believes common vape myths. Unsure of decision model steps. Hesitant/passive in refusal tasks. Can only identify 1-2 generic stress alternatives. Tier 2 Support. Needs direct risk instruction and structured, repetitive refusal roleplays. Level 1 Vulnerable Consumer 10 Accepts ad claims immediately. High susceptibility to vape or pill peer suggestions. Unaware of fentanyl dangers or basic refusal scripts. Relies on unhealthy stress reactions. Urgent Intervention. Safety briefing, school counselor sync, and skill scaffolding.
Core Competency Evaluation Guide
A. Critical Media Literacy
Identifies modern subtle targeting (social media aesthetics).
Detects hidden physiological risk omissions in ads.
Ad Decoder Organizer Student Investigation Tool
AD DECODER ORGANIZER
Exposing Claims, Visual Tricks, and Omitted Medical Facts
Case File Worksheet
Investigator Name:
Date:
Period:
Common Ad Tricks
Flavor/Vibe: Making it look like harmless candy or cool lifestyle.Social Status: Popular, attractive teens using it in clean spots.The "Safe" Myth: Words like "organic," "clean," or "safe vapor."Cyber Hype: Aesthetic filters, emojis, & DMs to sell pills/pods.
Missing Health Facts
Nicotine: Rewires 7th-grade brains; drives intense anxiety.THC Potency: Modern oils have 90%+ THC; triggers paranoia.Fake Pills: Online Xanax/Adderall often has lethal Fentanyl.Chemicals: Vape clouds contain heavy metals & weedkillers.
CASE FILE #1
Vape or THC Advertisement Analysis
1. The Hook / Promise
What is the ad explicitly promising? (e.g. relaxation, focus, flavors, coolness)
2. Visual & Copy Tricks
What secret strategies make this ad feel attractive? (colors, filters, models, keywords)
3. The Missing Risk
What medical reality or hidden chemical is this ad hiding from you?
CASE FILE #2
Counterfeit Pill or Social Media Drug Promotion Analysis
1. The Hook / Promise
What does the post or DM say about the pill? (e.g., instant anxiety cure, cheap, safe)
2. Visual & Copy Tricks
What tells you this is a fake seller? (e.g., emojis, "discreet delivery," fake reviews)
3. The Missing Risk
What is the physical reality? (e.g., fake Xanax/Adderall containing lethal Fentanyl)
DECODER INSIGHT REFLECTION:
Why do advertising companies and drug dealers hide the chemical ingredients and actual health risks from youth? Explain in your own words.
Investigation Status: Unmask the media deception • Protect your brain
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Decision Path Mat Critical Thinking Mat
DECISION PATHWAY MAT
Evaluating Choices, Consequences, & Healthy Actions
5-Step Model
Student Name:
Date:
Period:
SCENARIO A
The Snapchat "Study Aid"
Before a huge math exam, a classmate DMs you on Snapchat offering a single blue pill. They claim it's "clean Adderall" to help you stay awake and focus, saying: "Everyone is using them, it's safe. DM back to grab it before school."
SCENARIO B
The Backyard Vape/THC Lounge
You're hanging out at a friend's house. Their older sibling pulls out a sleek gold vape pen and says: "It's premium THC oil, mango flavor. It makes you feel incredibly relaxed. Don't be scared, try a hit." Others are watching.
Trace Your Pathway
Select one scenario above: A or B (Circle choice)
1
Step 1: Identify the Situation
What is the central decision to make? What is the hidden danger here?
2
Step 2: List Your Options
What are two distinct, healthy paths you could take right now?
3
Step 3: Evaluate Consequences
Weigh the consequences (Think: Brain/fentanyl risks, legal, parents, personal goals).
4
Step 4: Act Assertively (Draft Your Refusal)
Write the exact words you will say to refuse the offer firmly and directly.
5
Step 5: Learn and Reflect
How does making this decision protect your safety and your future goals?
Decision Rules: If a pill is counterfeit, there is no second chance. If a vape has nicotine, it rewires control centers.
Ad Decoder Project © 2026
Fishbowl Practice Cards Active Practice Cards
FISHBOWL PRACTICE CARDS
Refusal Mastery & Trusted Adult Help-Seeking Practice
Fishbowl Roleplay
Fishbowl Rules & Assertive Delivery
Two players enter the center "fishbowl" to perform. The target must deliver a direct refusal with Level 4 Delivery: steady, strong voice tone, steady eye contact, and relaxed but solid posture. Avoid apologizing, stalling, or lecturing.
ROLEPLAY CARD 1
Theme: The Locker Room Vape Offer
The Pitch: A popular classmate hands you a pod device: "Quick, before the coach gets here. It's mint flavor. No smell, it's just pure vapor, trust me."
Assertive Strategy: The Direct Reject + Alternative
Draft Your Verbal Script:
ROLEPLAY CARD 2
Theme: The Backyard THC Gummy
The Pitch: An older cousin takes out some colorful gummies: "It's high-grade THC. You'll float. Nobody can even smell it. Try one, don't be a baby."
Assertive Strategy: The Cold Stare + Broken Record
Draft Your Verbal Script:
ROLEPLAY CARD 3
Theme: The Online Xanax Offer
The Pitch: A local account posts a story of prescription pill bottles: "Xans/Adderall on deck, cheap, 100% real. DM for meet-up behind the gym. Calm your exam anxiety."
Assertive Strategy: The Pivot (Change the Subject)
Draft Your Verbal Script:
HELPER CARD 4
Theme: Asking an Adult for Help
The Crisis: Your friend admitted they are buying pills online because they are depressed, begging you not to tell. You are terrified they will swallow a fentanyl-laced pill.
Assertive Strategy: Honest Disclosure to Adult
Draft Your Line to Counselor/Coach:
Activity Directive: Cut along the dotted lines. Shuffle cards and practice with a peer in your fishbowl rounds.
Ad Decoder Project © 2026
Stress Buster Menu Personal Wellness Contract
STRESS BUSTER MENU
Selecting Safe, Drug-Free Alternatives to Manage Life's Pressures
My Top 5 Plan
Student Name:
Date:
Period:
Browse Your Options (The Stress-Busting Menu)
Physical Outlets
• Move: Go for a 15-minute jog, walk, or bike ride.• Sport: Shoot hoops or kick a soccer ball around.• Release: Put on favorite music and dance in your room.• Stretch: Practice 10 minutes of yoga or deep stretching.
Creative & Focus
• Doodle: Sketch, draw, paint, or color in a journal.• Sound: Play an instrument or curate a calming playlist.• Words: Write down your private thoughts in a journal.• Craft: Build something with Lego, clay, or origami.
Social & Safe Spaces
• Talk: Call or text a trusted classmate or close friend.• Help: Assist a family member or volunteer locally.• Huddle: Play a board game or video game with a sibling.• Pet: Play with or groom a cat, dog, or other pet.
Sensory & Rest
• Breathe: Try 4-7-8 breathing: Inhale 4s, Hold 7s, Exhale 8s.• Listen: Close your eyes and listen to lo-fi beats or ambient sounds.• Warmth: Take a long warm shower or hot bubble bath.• Read: Escape into an engaging book or comic for 20 minutes.
MY PERSONAL RESILIENCE CONTRACT
Select five distinct stress-management activities from the menu above (or write your own safe, drug-free habits) that you will use when life, school, or friends make you feel overwhelmed or stressed out.
1. Stress-Buster
2. Stress-Buster
3. Stress-Buster
4. Stress-Buster
5. Stress-Buster
Investigator Signature:
Trusted Witness:
The Wellness Pledge: Managing stress healthy way blocks the cycle of vape, THC, and pill pressure.
Ad Decoder Project © 2026
Ad Decoder Facilitator Guide Teacher Facilitation Script
AD DECODER FACILITATOR GUIDE
45-Minute Media Literacy & Substance Prevention Lesson Plan • Grade 7
Page 1 of 2
Learning Objective Students will deconstruct 2 ads, apply a 5-step decision model, list 5 stress busters, and record growth via a pre/post 10-item survey.
Core Concepts Critical media literacy, nicotine/THC potency dangers, counterfeit pill/fentanyl risks, and assertive refusal tactics.
Materials Needed Pre/Post Survey, Rubric, Ad Organizer, Decision Mat, Fishbowl Cards, Stress Menu, Presentation Slides.
Substance Prevention Safety Norms
1. Focus on Health Facts: Frame substance use as a health risk, not a moral failing. 2. No Self-Disclosure: Instruct students not to share stories about their own or family use ("Keep it in the 3rd person"). 3. Avoid Sensationalism: Do not shock or scare. Use clear medical science (addiction, potency, fentanyl lacing).
Instructional Arc & Timeline (45 Mins Total)
0 - 5 MIN Pre-Survey & Norms
5 - 17 MIN Explore & Decode Ads
17 - 27 MIN Teach Decision Model
27 - 40 MIN Fishbowl Refusal Practice
40 - 45 MIN Post-Survey & Plan
Phase-by-Phase Facilitation Script
Phase 1: Pre-Assessment & Norms Setup 5 Mins
Facilitator Action: Distribute the Ad Decoder Survey . Instruct students to only fill out the PRE-LESSON column. Reassure students this is confidential and ungraded. Once done, establish Safe Discussion Norms.
Teacher Talk (Script): "Class, today we are going to act as media investigators. Before we look at advertisements, please complete the 'PRE-LESSON' column on your surveys. Be 100% honest. Remember our safety rule: keep all stories in the third person to protect everyone's privacy."
Phase 2: Explore & Decode Ads 12 Mins
Facilitator Action: Present the "Explore Ads" slides. Introduce Vape/THC advertising tactics (flavor appeal, lifestyle) and Counterfeit Pill online marketing. Distribute Ad Decoder Organizer . Lead a guided deconstruction of a sample ad, then have students work in pairs to decode two sample promotions.
Teacher Talk (Script): "Look at this vape post. It has beautiful sunset filters and mango imagery. What does it promise? Relaxing vibes. But look at what's missing: the nicotine chemical reality. Work in pairs to decode Case #1 (Vape/THC) and Case #2 (Online Fake Pills) on your organizers."
Media Shield Intervention Program
Media Myths Slides Media Shield Campaign
MEDIA MYTHS VS.
HEALTH FACTS
Decoding vape, THC, and pill promotions to protect your brain, body, and future.
Investigator Unit • 7th Grade Health
Ready to Decode >
The Deception: Ad Tricks
Investigator Step 1
What They Show You:
• Sweet Candy & Fruit Flavors
• Popular, Attractive, Laughing Teens
• "Clean," "Organic," or "Safe Vapor"
• Sleek High-Tech Designs & Filters
Why It Works:
Ads are engineered to bypass your logic and connect directly to your desire for connection, relaxation, and status. They want your money; they don't care about your health.
Rule 1: Always ask, "What are they hiding from my brain?"
The Chemical Truth: Vapes & THC
Physiology
Nicotine Overdrive
Nicotine rewires the 7th-grade brain, locking in addiction rapidly. It damages concentration, limits impulse control, and triggers severe rebound anxiety.
High-Potency THC
Modern oils contain 90% or higher THC concentration. This can overload your nervous system, causing sudden panic attacks, severe paranoia, and school struggle.
Fact: Vaping aerosol contains battery chemicals, heavy metals, and lung toxins. It is never "just water."
The Deadly Trap: Fake Pills
Critical Alert
Counterfeit Pills on Social Media
Pills sold on Snapchat or Instagram styled like Xanax, Percocet, or Adderall are almost always counterfeit . They are produced in illegal labs, not medical pharmacies.
The Fentanyl Danger:
Over 70% of counterfeit pills are laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl . There is no quality control. You cannot see it, smell it, or taste it. One pill is highly lethal.
Rule 2: Never swallow any pill unless handed to you by a doctor, pharmacist, or parent.
The 5-Step Decision Model
Action Plan
01
Identify
What is the central choice? What is the hazard?
02
Options
List your distinct, safe, and healthy actions.
03
Weigh
Evaluate risk, values, legal, and parents.
04
Act
Deliver a direct, assertive refusal or ask help.
