General Information

Title: Consumer Rights and Contracts

Subject Area: Social Studies/Economics

SOL 7.7 - Virginia Standards of Learning

The students will describe the role of the governments in the United States economy, with emphasis on:

• provision of public goods and services;
• protection of consumer rights, contracts, and property rights;
• the impact of government taxation, borrowing, and spending on individuals and on the production and distribution of goods and services; and
• the role of the Federal Reserve System and the impact of monetary policy on the money supply and interest rates.

Grade Level: 8

Lesson Topic: Consumer Rights in the United States.

Descriptive Overview: This lesson will explore agencies that ensure basic consumer rights.

Advantages of Medium: Students will be able to research consumer agencies on the Internet.

Lesson Specifics

Lesson Objectives/Goals: The student will:

• identify the role that the government plays in the United States in protecting consumer rights.
• research and summarize the role of consumer agencies in our government.
• investigate consumer protection by the government through the use of contracts.

Assumed Skills or Prerequisite Skills: Students must be familiar with lesson vocabulary and basic Internet skills

Learning Environment:

• One computer with the use of the accompanying power point presentation
• Computer lab

Instructional Set

• Define the word consumer.
• Discuss with students the role of the consumer in the economy.

Gaining Attention: Not applicable

Orienting the Lesson: Not applicable

Stimulating Recall of Prerequisites: Not applicable

Key Questions: Not applicable

Teaching Strategies

1. In 1962, John F, Kennedy presented the bill of rights for consumers
2. Discuss with students the idea that the principal responsibility for consumer protection lays with government agencies at the federal, state and local levels
3. Investigate consumer protection that the government provides through a contract.

   
   Clarity in Contracts
   Consumer Contracts

4. Brainstorm government agencies that protect consumers.
5. Search on the internet to find government agencies that are provided to help consumers
6. List these agencies and web sites on the Consumer Web site Organizer
7. Investigate the following agencies:

   
   Consumer Product Safety Commission
   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
   Federal Trade Commission
   United States Postal Service
   The National Institutes of Standards and Technology
   Department of Agriculture

8. Complete Consumer Agency questions
9. Discuss answers to agency questions orally.

Terminology/Vocabulary:

Consumer
Contract

Practice: Not applicable

Assessment:

• Students should use the information they researched and complete a poster that informs the public about its services. Students can be given the freedom to choose a topic, or assigned a topic by the teacher. Posters should include addresses and goals of the agencies. This assessment could be completed in pairs or individually. Also, this assessment could be completed using available computer software in a lab setting.
• Students will complete an oral presentation of their project.

Enhancements

• Research individuals that have influenced consumer rights. Ralph Nader is an example of one activist.
• Create a government agency directory for your community.

Extensions

Not applicable