The topic of consumerism seems easy to those who participate actively in the US economy, but pupils who are new to economics may see the idea as foreign. Help them understand their rights as consumers and what to expect when interacting with businesses by using an insightful resource, which includes readings, an interactive activity, a class discussion, writing a complaint letter to a business, role-play scenarios, and an assessment.

Concepts

consumer awareness, consumer finance, consumer goods, consumer skills, consumerism, consumers, primary consumers, corporations, economics

Show More Show Less

Additional Tags

social studies

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Update some of the examples with more relevant technology; for example, instead of referencing a scratched CD, discuss a broken smartphone
• Consider switching the complaint scenario and requiring learners to also provide customer service to a complaining consumer

Classroom Considerations

• The resource is the first in a three-part series

Pros

• Tests for comprehension with interactive activity
• Provides ideas for extension exercises
• Includes rubric for assessment

Cons

• None

Common Core

RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.2 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.2