Acknowledging that consumers need to look for certain information on store coupons, this lesson plan uses the overhead projector for teaching elementary school students how to systematically read and use coupons. The lesson emphasizes informed consumerism and provides a practical opportunity for students to apply the skills of vocabulary…

A learning experience is described for upper elementary or junior high students involving the manufacture, transportation, and marketing of a product for consumers. Steps are given and roles are assigned for students to convert raw material (paper) to a finished product (paper airplanes) and to sell it. (AV)

Presented is a chart which helps to explain inflation to intermediate grade students. It dramatizes the cumulative effect of inflation over six years, and helps to introduce the topic of self-sufficiency, which can help alleviate the problem of inflation. (KC)

Describes a six-week economics project for high school students. Suggests teaching consumer economics by having students pretend they are broke and out on their own. Discusses activities, materials, and student essays demonstrating the use and understanding of basic consumer terminology, credit, insurance, budgeting, and housing. (DK)

Outlines a unit of instruction on credit card usage that would allow young students to research what credit, reputation, and trust are; examine contract and monthly statement terminology; investigate the advantages and disadvantages of credit cards; and begin to think critically about the use of credit cards. (FL)

Proposes strategies and activities for use by elementary school social studies classroom teachers as they develop and implement consumer education programs. Guidelines include defining the problem, identifying goals, considering alternatives, analyzing consequences, and selecting a solution in terms of goals. (Author/DB)

Described are numerous activities designed to make students aware of their consumer identities, and to help them evaluate some of the products and services that are available in the marketplace. For each activity, objectives, materials, and discussion questions are included. (KC)

Since media consumers must make a great many judgments about media messages and the effectiveness of any given message in meeting one's needs, media teachers should develop materials and activities to facilitate the learning of effective media usage skills. Teachers can help students to become more effective media consumers by providing an…

Suggestions are given for ways to help students sharpen their mathematical skills and clarify the value systems that underlie their present and future consumer decisions. Focuses on determining costs, solving household problems involving measurement, reading and interpreting graphs and tables, and using concepts of average and percent. (MP)

Presents an example that illustrates the connection between taxation of private goods or services and provision of public goods or services. Demonstrates that the burdens of taxation in the private sector can in theory be offset by gains in consumer surplus in the public sector, providing a more balanced view than can be found in many introductory…

Presents 13 active-learning activities designed for use in consumer behavior courses. The exercises involve students in brief activities, such as analysis of persuasion techniques in advertising, and follow-up discussion. Reports that students found the exercises enjoyable and worthwhile. (CFR)

Two students (ages 18 and 20) with moderate mental retardation were taught to use a pocket calculator to make purchases. Progressive time delay and general case programing methods were used. Results indicated that the purchasing behaviors generalized to two untrained community sites and to untrained items and were maintained four weeks after…

Fifth graders became interested in math by learning about jobs, housing, and transportation costs based on information in the local newspaper. In the process they learned something about the economics of living, and about how mathematics would be important to them in the years ahead. (KC)

The active learning approach promotes student achievement of higher-order skills such as independent reasoning, problem solving, and critical assessment. Active learning has been shown to foster student retention and encourage a more positive attitude toward school. The goal of the consumer decision-making class for university students and adults…