Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Did You Get the Message?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students investigate how advertising gets the buyer's attention and how it influences buying decisions. They then create a print ad for "Burp Cola" and for one of their favorite books.
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Curated OER

Buying, Selling, Profits

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners follow the framework of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). In this FCCLA lesson plan, students research the clothing market from the perspectives of consumers and business owners. Learners also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create a Popstar

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students develop an awareness of one's media and consumer habits. They recognize advertising techniques, such as the use of celebrity spokespersons and music.
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Curated OER

What's In the Shopping Bag?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the techniques used by advertisers to sell toys and snack foods, increase awareness of consumer habits and media influences and differentiate between information and selling.
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Curated OER

Shopping Bag Challenge

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students design a shopping bag that will allow the consumer to immediately identify the store and understand the product that is being sold. They create an advertisement for a new shopping bag. Students choose their type of business to...
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Curated OER

Bias, Prejudice and Propaganda

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine bias, prejudeice, and propaganda in reading selections. They view commercials and print ads, discuss how the advertisers are trying to convince them of something, and keep a commercial journal.
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Curated OER

Adbusting: A Media Literacy Unit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the ethical issues regarding the role of advertising in our society. They watch a series of ads, analyze the messages of the commercials, and in small groups create a counter-ad.
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Curated OER

"Targets"

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate how alcohol advertisers target young people. They watch and discuss a video, create a collage using alcohol ads, develop captions for each ad, and discuss and evaluate how young people are the targets of alcohol...
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Curated OER

Design Your Own Cereal Box

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore the ways in which media messages work and the ways in which consumers are targeted.
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Signs Signs - Everywhere Signs

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine advertising techniques. In this media literacy lesson, students collaborate to create PowerPoint presentations that feature multimedia formats to share advertising that is present in their community.
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Curated OER

Tree Products Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore how everyday items come from the forest.  In this tree products lesson students create an advertisement for one product that comes from the forest. 
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Are things Really More Expensive Today?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the topics of inflation and deflation within the economy. The Consumer Price Index is used to contrast the price of goods today with that of years past.
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Curated OER

Southeast Asia And Globalization

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils investigate the area of Southeast Asia and how its economy has become the power that it is today. The concepts related to being a consumer are discussed. They go over how globalization has been introduced into Asia and helped to...
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Curated OER

Who Pays for My Favorite Television Program?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders analyze media messages. In this media messages lesson plan, 9th graders identify techniques in television commercials that appeal to the senses and emotions. Students analyze the elements in example ads. Students keep...
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Curated OER

Shopping Spree

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students calculate discounts, sale price, and sale tax. In this consumer math lesson, students visit mock stores which have items for sale. Students calculate the final prices of items.
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Curated OER

The Artist as Entrepreneur: Getting Down to Business: What's My Market?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create a marketing plan for their artwork by analyzing their potential customers. They consider the type of art they wish to produce, the price range for the art and the type of competition that they face then develop a low...
Worksheet
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Real Life Challenge

For Students 7th - 9th
For this consumer mathematics worksheet, students use the newspaper to complete the sheet and figure out their budget for the next six months. They include parenting challenges and a new baby in their budget factors.
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Pros and Cons of Advertising

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders compare and contrast television commercials. They write paragraphs explaining how different company commercials for the same product can confuse consumers.
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Giving'Em The Business

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students work in groups of 4-5 to form a business, create, market & sell their product, and track their expenses and profits. They experience the roles of producer, distributor, and consumer of goods. They collect, organize and...
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Curated OER

Driving the Digital Highway

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students research a specific type of innovative computer technology in automobiles or other commonplace products or services and create a radio advertisement 'selling' this innovation.
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Curated OER

Pitching Patriotism

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the use of color, images and type used in print advertising, then "pitch" a company. They, in groups, brainstorm products and services of companies that may be affected by the war in Iraq.
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Curated OER

1920s Consumer Culture

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students are immersed in the following goals of learning: The importance of consumerism in the 1920's. Also have learners recognize the connections between commodities and culture in the American past and present. Finally the ability for...
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Curated OER

Campaign Ads That Subtract and Add

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners explore media and media misrepresentation of prodcts. They create a video of a person (with both good and bad pictures.) Using creative titles, students download a slideshow. They add sound effects and other Adobe Premiere...
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Curated OER

Comparison Shopping

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Elementary schoolers explore the concepts associated with comparison shopping, and the concept of need versus want. They also look closely at the power of advertising and become more aware of the messages that ads present. After taking...