Oral Language, Speaking, Mathematics, Data Analysis and Probability, Problem Solving

Grade 5- 8

Objective

Students will participate in a group brainstorming and discussion session about teenage consumers and their spending habits. They will then collect data about their own spending habits for comparison purposes.

Directions

1. The purpose of this lesson is to focus on the idea that teen consumers contribute a great deal to the U.S. economy. Some industries rely heavily on teen markets for their sales and financial success.
2. Begin by having students brainstorm in a large group. This is the challenge you could pose to them. Name specific items or industries that rely heavily on teenage consumers.
3. As students contribute ideas, record them on the board for all to see. Once ideas have been exhausted, move to the next part of the discussion.
4. Focus on Scavenger Hunt questions 1-9. These address the idea of teens as consumers. Facilitate a short discussion about questions 3 and 4 and how the items and industries they have listed support the idea that some products are designed primarily for teens and that peer pressure urges teens to spend money on them.
5. Finally, tell students they will be involved in an informal survey. Hand out the Spending Log and go over the directions. Explain that this will help them learn more about their own spending habits.

Resources

• Spending Log (pages 49 and 50 -- see the link below)