Lesson
Marketing Influences
Summary
Marketing influences impact spending whether you realize it or not. Students learn to identify marketing influences, such as urgency, social proof, scarcity, freebies, and more.
Bellringer: The Brand Audit
- Students pick a possession they have with them and reflect on why they chose that brand.
Instruction
- Introduce impulse buying, the power of suggestion, and the Marketer's Toolkit — scarcity, social proof, urgency, freebies, and authority.
Discussion: Luxury vs. Dupes
- Compare an $80 tee to a $10 tee and ask what the extra $70 is really buying.
- Introduce dupes as strategic alternatives and warn about cheap knockoffs.
Activity: Balancing Quality & Cost
- Students read the article "Balancing Quality & Cost," complete the accompanying worksheet, and compare answers with a classmate.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Identify and define one marketing tactic we discussed today.
- Come up with one strategy for catching the "feeling" that could lead to an impulse purchase.
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: The Brand Audit |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 10 min | Discussion: Luxury vs. Dupes |
|
| 15 min | Activity: Balancing Quality & Cost |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Balancing Quality vs. Cost Article
Read about the how higher prices don't always indicate better quality.
Quality vs. Cost Worksheet
Students explore the relationship between price and quality.
Class Presentation
Includes a 16-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 Choices
S.M.A.R.T. Spending Goals
A goal without a plan is just a wish, and most wishes don't come with price tags. This lesson introduces the S.M.A.R.T. goal framework and connects it to real savings strategies so students can turn vague financial intentions into actionable plans.
Marketing Influences
Marketing influences impact spending whether you realize it or not. Students learn to identify marketing influences, such as urgency, social proof, scarcity, freebies, and more.
Social Media & Dark Patterns
That "honest" unboxing video is usually a paid ad your algorithm chose for you. This lesson exposes how social media and hidden dark patterns nudge middle schoolers into spending money they didn't plan to spend.
How do Banzai lesson plans work? See the FAQ.