Indiana Social Studies S.7.7

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Social Institutions

The Standard

Define propaganda and discuss the methods of propaganda used to influence social behavior.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain propaganda as a message meant to steer people's views or actions. They identify methods such as fear, bandwagon claims, testimonials, and selective facts, then explain the behavior each message encourages.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can point to words or images in a poster and name the method used. They can explain the intended action and what information the poster leaves out.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think propaganda is always false or only appears in politics. They may call any message they disagree with propaganda without showing how it tries to influence people.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, ask: Define propaganda, then read, “Everyone in our town recycles, so you should too.” Name the method and the action the message wants people to take.

Lesson moves

Give pairs printed slogan cards and have them sort each into fear, bandwagon, testimonial, or selective facts, citing a word that supports their choice.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining how “Everyone is doing it” might change a person's choice.
Play a matching game with slogan cards and method cards, then have students defend one match to a partner.
Project a city recycling campaign poster and have students circle its call to action and label one persuasive method it uses.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S.7.7, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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