Ad Detectives Slides AD DETECTIVES
Uncovering the Secret Science of Beverage Marketing
Hydration Hackers Lesson 1
THE HOOK
"Why does a famous athlete holding a soda make us want to buy it?"
Celebrity
Energy
Happiness
MIND GAMES
Color Psychology
Red for excitement, Blue for refreshing, Neon for energy.
Social Proof
Showing happy groups of friends or famous influencers.
The "Healthy" Blur
Using pictures of fruit or "natural" labels on sugary drinks.
Advertisers spend billions to make water look boring and soda look adventurous.
CASE STUDY: ENERGY GULP
The Ad Features:
A pro gamer winning a massive trophy.
Lightning bolts and neon green liquid.
Slow-motion "refreshing" spray.
Detective Discussion:
1. Who is the target audience?
2. What is the "hidden promise"?
3. Does the drink actually give you superpowers?
MISSION TIME
Grab your Ad Analysis Lab worksheet. We are going to deconstruct real-world ads and reveal the truth!
Step 1
Pick an advertisement.
Step 2
Spot the persuasion tricks.
Ad Analysis Lab Worksheet AD ANALYSIS LAB
HYDRATION HACKERS // UNIT 1
Detective Name:
Date:
Mission: Deconstruct a beverage advertisement to identify the "hidden messages" and persuasion techniques used to influence your choices.
1
Subject Identification
Beverage Brand & Product Name
Type of Beverage
Soda
Juice
Energy Drink
Water
2
Visual Evidence
Dominant Colors Used
What mood do these colors create? (Exciting, Refreshing, Cool?)
Characters / People Featured
Celebrities, athletes, or "cool" kids?
Sketch a key image from the ad
3
The Persuasion Playbook
Technique Spotted? (Yes/No) How is it used in this ad? Testimonial A famous person likes it Bandwagon Everyone is doing it The "Natural" Hook Fruit/nature images
4
Final Verdict
What is this ad REALLY trying to sell you (besides just a drink)?
If you had to replace this drink with plain water in the same ad, what would have to change?
Persuasion Playbook Teacher Guide Teacher Resource
Persuasion Playbook
Lesson 1: Analyzing Beverage Marketing Strategies
5th Grade
LESSON OVERVIEW
Students will transition from being passive consumers to active "detectives." The goal is to demystify how beverage companies use psychology to make sugary drinks appear essential for social success, athleticism, or happiness.
Essential Question
How do advertisers influence our hydration choices without us realizing it?
Key Vocabulary
Target Audience, Persuasion, Endorsement, Color Psychology, Social Proof.
FACILITATION GUIDE
1 The Hook (10 mins)
Show the hook slide. Ask: "If you saw LeBron James drinking a specific soda, would it make you want it more?" Allow for honest answers. Transition to the idea that these companies spend billions specifically to influence 5th graders.
2 Decoding the Tricks (15 mins)
Walk through the "Mind Games" slide. Use real-world examples (e.g., Gatorade's use of sweat and intensity vs. Vitamin Water's use of bright colors and "health" fonts). Point out how rarely we see commercials for plain tap water.
3 Ad Analysis Workshop (25 mins)
Distribute the Ad Analysis Lab worksheet. Provide printed ads from magazines or play 30-second clips. Students should work in pairs to identify the target audience and specific techniques.
DIFFERENTIATION STRATEGIES
For Support:
Provide a "Trick Bank" (list of common techniques) that students can check off rather than identifying them from scratch.
For Challenge:
Ask students to find two ads for the same product targeting different groups (e.g., kids vs. parents) and compare the differences.
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
"If soda had to have an honest advertisement, what would it look like?"
"Why do you think water companies don't use the same flashy ads as energy drinks?"
"Can you think of a time you bought something just because of the packaging or a person in an ad?"
Sugar Shock Slides SUGAR SHOCK
Visualizing the Hidden Sweetness in Your Favorite Drinks
Hydration Hackers Lesson 2
THE CHALLENGE
"Let's see what 40 grams of sugar actually looks like when we pour it out."
The Question
Can your body handle this much sugar at once?
The Solution
Water: Zero sugar, 100% hydration.
The Sweet Math
Conversion Rule
4 Grams = 1 Teaspoon
"If a soda has 40g of sugar, how many teaspoons are you drinking?"
Answer: 10 Teaspoons!
Imagine eating 10 spoonfuls of sugar straight from the bowl.
Sugar Scoop Lab
1
READ
Find the "Total Sugar" on the nutrition label.
2
CALCULATE
Divide by 4 to find the number of teaspoons.
3
DISPLAY
Scoop the sugar into a bag and label it!
LAB TIME
Open your Sugar Scoop Lab packet. Let's find out which drinks are hiding a "Sugar Shock."
VS.
REVEALED
Sugar Scoop Lab Worksheet SUGAR SCOOP LAB
HYDRATION HACKERS // UNIT 2
Researcher Name:
Lab Station:
LAB MATH: 4 grams of sugar = 1 teaspoon. Always round to the nearest half teaspoon.
1
Beverage Data Collection
Beverage Name Serving Size Total Sugar (g) Teaspoons (g ÷ 4) Tap Water 12 oz 0g 0
2
The Visual Shock
Which drink had the MOST sugar?
Which drink had the LEAST (besides water)?
Observation Reflection
"When you looked at the bag of sugar next to the bottle, what was your first thought? Why do you think it is hard to tell how much sugar is in a drink just by tasting it?"
3
Sugar Synonyms
Companies often hide sugar under different names. Circle any of these you find in your beverage ingredient lists:
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Cane Juice
Dextrose
Sucrose
Fructose
Agave Nectar
Honey
Maltodextrin
Sweet Secret Key Reference Sweet Secret Key
Average Sugar Content Reference for Teachers
COMMON BEVERAGE DATA
Beverage (12oz / 355ml) Sugar (g) Teaspoons Intensity Regular Cola 39g ~10 tsp High Energy Drink (Small Can) 27g ~7 tsp Med-High Orange Juice (100% Juice) 33g ~8.5 tsp High* Sports Drink 21g ~5 tsp Medium Chocolate Milk 24g ~6 tsp Medium Sparkling Water (Flavored) 0g 0 tsp None
*Even 100% juice contains significant natural sugars without the fiber of whole fruit.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY?
The Spike
Sugar enters the bloodstream rapidly. The pancreas releases a surge of insulin to process it.
The Crash
Blood sugar levels drop quickly, leading to fatigue, irritability, and more sugar cravings.
Key Teaching Points
1
Liquids vs. Solids: Sugar in drinks hits the system faster than sugar in food because there is no digestion (fiber) to slow it down.
2
Marketing Health: Highlight that "Vitamin Water" or "Organic Juice" can still have as much sugar as a soda.
3
Dehydration Risk: High sugar drinks can actually make you thirstier as your body uses water to process the glucose.
Plastic Planet Slides PLASTIC PLANET
The Environmental Cost of What We Drink
Hydration Hackers Lesson 3
THE BOTTLE BATTLE
"How long does the plastic bottle you use for 10 minutes last in a landfill?"
Time to Drink
10 Mins
Time to Decompose
450 Years
The Hidden Price Tag
Tap Water
$0.005 per gallon
Bottled Water
$1.50 per bottle
"Bottled water costs 3,000 times more than tap water."
You aren't paying for the water. You are paying for the plastic, the label, and the truck that moved it.
The Lifecycle
1. Oil Extraction & Production
2. Long Distance Shipping
3. Purchase & 10-Minute Use
4. Landfill or Ocean Pollution
Only 9% of all plastic ever made has been recycled.
MISSION TIME
It's time to track the impact. Use your Bottle vs. Tap Tracker to see the difference you can make.
Personal Health + Planetary Health = A Healthy Choice!
Bottle vs Tap Tracker Worksheet BOTTLE VS TAP TRACKER
HYDRATION HACKERS // UNIT 3
Student Name:
Date:
1
Comparing the Options
Feature Tap + Reusable Bottle Single-Use Plastic Bottle Cost per Year (Avg) $0.50 (for the water) $1,000+ Waste Produced Carbon Footprint (Oil/Shipping) Convenience Rating (1-10)
2
The 450-Year Timeline
A plastic bottle used in 2026 will still exist in the year 2476.
Imagine your bottle travels into the ocean. Describe three ways it could harm the environment or wildlife during its 450-year journey:
3
Hydration Solution
If you could change one thing at our school to help more students use reusable bottles, what would it be?
More Water Stations
Water Bottle Giveaway
A Hydration Challenge
Vessel Vision Slides VESSEL VISION
Designing the Ultimate 5th Grade Hydration Machine
Hydration Hackers Lesson 4
The Brief
"If you could invent the perfect water bottle that makes everyone want to drink water, what would it look like?"
Appeal
Must look cool!
Function
Easy to use.
Earth-Friendly
Reusable materials.
Killer Features
Volume Markers
Help people track their progress during the day.
Fruit Infusers
Natural flavor without the added sugar.
Smart Caps
Lights up or vibrates when it's time to drink.
"Think about Grip, Insulation, Clips, and Personalization!"
Honest Marketing
Unlike soda ads, your campaign must be TRUTHFUL.
The Challenge:
"Create a slogan that is catchy but doesn't lie to the customer."
❌ "Drink this to fly!"
✅ "Power your brain, skip the sugar."
Design Time
Open your Prototype Planner. It's time to build the future of hydration!
Sketch
Prototype
Pitch
Prototype Planner Worksheet PROTOTYPE PLANNER
HYDRATION HACKERS // UNIT 4
Lead Designer:
1
User Research
What is the #1 reason 5th graders choose soda over water?
What would make a water bottle "cool" to carry at school?
2
The Blueprint
Label your features:
• Materials
• Lid Design
• Special Tech/Tools
Draw your prototype here
3
Marketing Strategy
Product Name
The "Honest" Slogan
The Elevator Pitch
Why should a school invest in your bottle for every student?
Campaign Launch Slides Campaign Launch
Becoming Health Advocates for Our School Community
Hydration Hackers Lesson 5
The Mission
"How can we convince the whole 5th grade to choose water for one week?"
Advocacy
Standing up for a cause and helping others make better choices.
Impact
Healthier friends, cleaner planet, smarter school!
Choose Your Medium
Visual Poster
Bold colors, sugar facts, and a powerful call to action.
Announcement
A script for the morning news or a lunchtime speech.
The Challenge
A 7-day school-wide competition with points and prizes.
The Winning Pitch
Your Campaign Must Include:
One "Sugar Shock" fact.
One environmental cost.
A catchy, honest slogan.
"Use your voice to change the choice!"
Launch Time
Work with your group on the Campaign Blueprint. The 5th grade is waiting!
Collaborate
Advocate
Campaign Blueprint Worksheet CAMPAIGN BLUEPRINT
HYDRATION HACKERS // UNIT 5
Team Name:
1
Campaign Identity
Main Goal
What specific behavior do you want to change?
Campaign Slogan
Catchy, truthful, and memorable!
2
Evidence-Based Persuasion
The Sugar Shock Fact:
The Plastic Planet Fact:
3
Visual Layout
Draft your poster or script storyboard here
4
Measuring Impact
How will you know if your campaign worked?
Count water bottle use at lunch
Survey 5th graders before/after
Track recycling bin contents
Other: _________________
Impact Rubric Assessment Impact Rubric
Hydration Hackers Final Pitch
Total Points
/ 20
Criteria Expert (4-5) Developing (2-3) Novice (0-1) Scientific Evidence Includes specific sugar facts and environmental data. Mentions general health but lacks specific data. No evidence or incorrect facts. Persuasion Strategy Uses a catchy, honest slogan and a clear call to action. Has a slogan, but it might be confusing or untruthful. No clear message or call to action. Visual/Delivery Campaign is neat, professional, and easy to read/hear. Campaign is somewhat clear but needs more effort. Messy or difficult to understand. Advocacy Voice Group presents with confidence and addresses the audience. Group reads from notes but stays on topic. Minimal group participation or off-topic.
PEER FEEDBACK
One thing this campaign did really well:
One suggestion for more impact:
Great work, Hydration Hacker!
