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 Fundamentals
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.
Reading a Receipt
Every receipt tells a story about where your money actually went. This lesson breaks down the components of a real purchase—from subtotals and sales tax to fees and payment methods—so students can read any receipt like a financial document.
Sales Tax Decoded
The sticker price of an item is rarely the final price. This lesson breaks down how sales tax is calculated, why rates differ across states and cities, and how tax impacts real purchasing decisions.
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