
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 Fundamentals

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.

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 Influences
Whether it's native advertising, sponsored content, or in-timeline advertising, social media often influences spending. This lesson discusses data tracking, FOMO, and deceptive social media tactics that can influence online purchases.
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