Lesson
Comparison Shopping
Summary
It pays to be a smart consumer. This lesson introduces comparison shopping skills, discusses time vs. money tradeoffs, and externalities that go beyond a price tag.
Bellringer: Designer or Dupe
- Decide between an $85 designer hoodie and a $35 dupe
- If you earn $15 an hour, how many extra hours of work does the designer logo cost you?
Instruction
- Understand consumer skills needed to research, evaluate, and select products
- Compare price, quality, features, reviews
- Explore externalities, or hidden costs to the world
Discussion: Scarcity vs. Values
- Decide between a product that is eco-friendly or a product that is $20 cheaper
Activity: Consumer Smarts Game
- Take the Consumer Smarts pretest
- Start the Consumer Smarts game
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- What is one area where you'll always comparison shop?
- What is one area where comparison shopping isn't worth your time?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: Designer or Dupe |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 5 min | Discussion: Scarcity vs. Values |
|
| 20 min | Activity: Consumer Smarts Game |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Consumer Smarts Pretest
Assess how much students already know about being an informed consumer.
Consumer Smarts
Students play as a high school student making smart spending decisions to save money for a big purchase.
Class Presentation
Includes a 17-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 2: Consumer Skills
Comparison Shopping
It pays to be a smart consumer. This lesson introduces comparison shopping skills, discusses time vs. money tradeoffs, and externalities that go beyond a price tag.
Marketing Tactics
Every purchase you make is the result of someone selling you a feeling, not just a product. This lesson uncovers the psychology and tactics marketers use to trigger spending and equips students to spot influence before they buy.
Recognizing Scams & Fraud
That $200 stranger on Venmo isn't a lucky break — it's bait. This lesson trains students to spot common scams, decode red flags, and run every suspicious offer through a three-question test before they act.
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