CurriculumMedia LiteracyWorkshops

Marketing vs Science: A Class Project Using 'Healthy Soda' Ads to Teach Critical Thinking

tthepower

2026-02-01

8 min read

A 4–6 week classroom module where students analyze "healthy soda" marketing, test claims against research, and present evidence-based recommendations.

Hook: Turn students' skepticism into skill — using "healthy soda" ads to teach real critical thinking

Students, teachers, and lifelong learners are overwhelmed by slick wellness ads that promise quick fixes. If your class struggles to separate persuasive marketing from rigorous science, this classroom project gives you a full, evidence-driven module for 2026: students analyze beverage marketing for a trending product category—"healthy soda"—compare claims to research, and present clear, evidence-based recommendations.

The one-sentence elevator pitch

In a 4–6 week module, students will dissect real-world marketing for prebiotic and "healthy" sodas, evaluate claims against peer-reviewed research and regulatory guidance, and produce evidence-based presentations that recommend whether and how companies should communicate health benefits ethically.

Why this matters in 2026

By late 2025 and into 2026 the beverage industry accelerated moves into the wellness aisle—incumbents and startups launched prebiotic, low-sugar, and functional sodas while legal challenges and consumer scrutiny increased. Major acquisitions (notably Pepsi's 2025 purchase of a popular prebiotic brand) and new product launches mean marketers have bigger budgets and more sophisticated channels, from streaming ads on high-engagement platforms to omnichannel advertising to AI-personalized social campaigns. That makes media literacy and evidence-based research skills essential for students who must parse persuasive messaging from scientific fact.

Learning outcomes (what students will be able to do)

Apply media literacy frameworks to identify persuasive techniques in beverage advertising.
Evaluate nutrition and health claims using scientific methods and reputable sources.
Create a concise, evidence-based recommendation for consumers or brands.
Present research findings clearly, citing reliable sources and acknowledging limitations.

Module overview: Structure and timeline

This module is flexible for high school or undergraduate classes and fits a 4–6 week term. Below is a scalable plan you can compress for workshops or expand across a semester.

Week 1 — Orientation & sourcing ads (2 classes)

Introduce the topic and pain points: why "healthy soda" claims matter.
Assign readings on prebiotics, sugar substitutes, and industry trends in 2025–2026.
Students collect 3–5 ads/labels from brands (video, social post, product packaging).

Week 2 — Media literacy toolkit (2 classes)

Teach rhetorical analysis: ethos, pathos, logos, visual rhetoric, and framing.
Introduce an ad-analysis checklist (see below).
Homework: each student submits a short ad deconstruction.

Week 3 — Science check: how to evaluate health claims (2–3 classes)

Show how to search PubMed, Google Scholar, and government resources (CDC, USDA, FDA) for relevant evidence.
Teach how to judge study quality: RCT vs observational, sample size, funding source, conflicts of interest.
Students map ad claims to specific scientific questions (e.g., "Does X prebiotic reduce GI symptoms in adults?").

Week 4 — Data synthesis & report drafting (2 classes + independent work)

Students synthesize evidence and draft a 1,000–1,500 word evidence review and one-page policy/advice brief.
Peer review session to critique methodology and clarity.

Week 5 — Student presentations & stakeholder role-play (2–3 classes)

Students give 8–12 minute presentations and submit final reports.
Include a role-play: one group acts as brand marketers, another as public health advisors, and a third as consumer advocates — use the micro-event mindset when staging stakeholder simulations to make the exercise feel real.

Week 6 — Reflection, assessment & extension (1–2 classes)

Class debrief on learning, ethical implications, and how to apply skills beyond beverages.
Optional extension: design a small survey to measure peers' interpretation of ads.

Practical tools and classroom materials

Below are checklists, rubrics, and resources you can drop into your LMS.

Ad-analysis checklist (for students)

Claim identification: What is the explicit health claim? (e.g., "supports gut health")
Hidden promises: Are benefits implied through imagery, celebrity use, or lifestyle cues?
Evidence cited: Does the ad reference studies, and are they verifiable?
Language scrutiny: Look for hedges ("may help"), qualifiers, or scientific-sounding jargon.
Label math: Check serving size, sugar grams, calories, and ingredient order.
Audience and framing: Who is the target audience and which emotional triggers are used?
Regulatory flags: Note any potential overreach (e.g., implying disease prevention without FDA approval).

Evidence-evaluation checklist

Is the cited study peer-reviewed?
Study design: RCTs > controlled trials > observational > anecdote.
Sample size and population: generalizable to target consumers?
Funding/source conflicts: industry-funded studies deserve extra scrutiny.
Consistency: are multiple independent studies in agreement?
Effect size vs statistical significance: is the benefit meaningful?

Recommended research sources (student-friendly)

PubMed and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed research.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Dietary Guidelines for nutrition context.
FDA and consumer protection pages for labeling rules and allowed claims.
Academic reviews and meta-analyses for balanced evidence summaries.
Credible journalism summaries for industry context—needed to trace marketing trends (e.g., major brand entries in 2025).

Classroom-ready assessment rubric

Use this rubric for both the written report and oral presentation. Score each item 1–5.

Accuracy of claims analysis — Clear mapping of ad claims to scientific questions.
Quality of evidence — Use of high-quality, relevant sources and correct interpretation.
Critical thinking — Identification of bias, limitations, and ethical concerns.
Clarity and structure — Logical organization and clear recommendations.
Presentation skills — Engagement, time management, and visual aids.
Use of data — Appropriate charts, citations, and quantitative reasoning.

Sample student deliverables

Make expectations concrete with sample deliverables. Two examples:

Deliverable A — Consumer brief (for a general audience)

Length: 1 page. Bulleted recommendations for shoppers (e.g., "Check the Nutrition Facts for 'total sugars' per serving; beware of serving size tricks").
Include a short annotated bibliography of 3–5 credible sources.

Deliverable B — Brand advisory (for company communication)

Length: 1,000–1,500 words. Evidence summary of efficacy claims, suggested responsible language, and proposed label changes.
Recommendation example: replace unverified health claims with transparent statements and link to scientific summaries.

Instructor tips and common pitfalls

Assign mixed-ability groups to balance research and presentation skills.
Be explicit about acceptable sources and citation formats to avoid misinformation.
Encourage students to document company-owned research separately and critique conflicts of interest.
Watch for confirmation bias—students often seek studies that match their preferences.

Advertising sells narratives; science tests them. Teach students to spot the story and check the evidence.

Applying real-world context: 2025–2026 trends you should discuss

Use recent developments to make the lesson current and relevant:

Big brands entering wellness: In 2025 many multinational beverage companies acquired and launched prebiotic and low-sugar lines, raising budgets for marketing and making media literacy critical.
Legal scrutiny: Lawsuits and consumer complaints in 2025–2026 over gut-health claims highlight the need to evaluate evidence and regulatory boundaries.
Omnichannel advertising: Ads now run across streaming platforms, social short-form video, and influencer partnerships—students should assess message consistency across channels.
AI-driven personalization: Marketers in 2026 increasingly use AI to target health-conscious consumers; teach students to consider how tailored messaging influences perceived credibility.

From classroom to community: extensions and impact

Turn this project into civic action. Students can:

Run a schoolwide survey to report on peers' understanding of product claims.
Publish consumer briefs on a class blog or local paper.
Present findings to local health departments or parent groups.

Case study example (classroom-ready)

Assign a recent ad campaign and have students examine the following:

Identify the product (e.g., a prebiotic soda launched by a large beverage company in late 2025).
List explicit and implicit health claims.
Search for clinical trials or reviews on the active ingredient (e.g., a specific prebiotic fiber) and summarize findings.
Assess whether the ad overstates benefits or hides limitations (serving size, sugar content).
Make two recommendations: one for consumers, one for the brand's marketing team.

Sample recommendations students might produce

For consumers: "Check the Nutrition Facts, compare sugars per serving, and treat 'prebiotic' claims conservatively—look for independent studies and clinical effect sizes."
For brands: "Avoid causal language unless supported by multiple independent RCTs. Use plain-language summaries that link to study details and disclose funding sources."

Final assessment and grading tips

Weight the grade toward critical analysis and evidence quality rather than rhetorical flourish. Example weighting:

Evidence and accuracy: 40%
Critical analysis and ethical reasoning: 25%
Presentation and communication: 20%
Peer review and collaboration: 15%

Why this module builds lifelong skills

Beyond beverage marketing, students learn transferable abilities: how to evaluate health claims, find and interpret scientific evidence, and communicate complex information to diverse audiences. These skills reduce vulnerability to misleading ads and prepare learners to navigate an increasingly data-driven world in 2026 and beyond. Use the project as a stepping stone to community-facing events or civic micro-summits that amplify student work.

Ready-to-use checklist for teachers (one page)

Choose 3–5 recent beverage ads (video, social post, label) from 2025–2026.
Prepare a short primer on research methods and reliable sources.
Create groups and assign roles (researcher, analyst, presenter).
Distribute rubrics and the ad-analysis checklist on day one.
Schedule peer review before final presentations.

Closing: teach students to be skeptical, not cynical

In an era where wellness messaging is everywhere and major brands invest heavily in positioning, media literacy is an act of empowerment. This module gives students concrete, evidence-based tools to interrogate marketing claims, improve research skills, and deliver clear, actionable recommendations. They won’t just learn to critique— they'll learn to build better communication grounded in science.

Call to action: Try this module next term. Run it as a 4-week unit, adapt it for a weekend workshop, or invite students to publish their findings. If you use the plan, share a short summary of student work with colleagues or on professional networks to amplify impact—teach others how to turn marketing into a laboratory for critical thinking.

thepower

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