Do not delete cell

Teaching Consumer Rights

• Lesson Activities & Strategies
• Teaching Resources Updated
• Material for Discussion

Lesson Activities & Strategies

[1] What do we know about consumer rights?

In order to check the background knowledge of students, the lesson might begin with brainstorming what students know about their rights and responsibilities. Building upon whatever knowledge is evident in the exercise, the class could then work in small groups to see if they can add to the information, either by researching from text books, newspapers or through the internet.

More able students could even be asked to look at the relevant legislation cited above which they should be able to access using appropriate search engine functions.

In order to pull their knowledge together at the end of the study period, a consolidation exercise could be used, such as summarising what they have learned in either poster, letter, poem or other format, perhaps with a particular imaginary scenario in mind provided by the teacher.

[2] Consumer Responsibilities

In order to help students discuss and clarify their thoughts about student responsibilities, it can be useful to reflect on the range of products which students currently buy and what criteria they use to determine their choices (advertising, peer pressure, magazines, ethical issues, price, environmental factors). Once a list is beginning to take shape, students in small groups could reflect on what factors might make them buy a particular product and what would put them off that product.

Through class discussion, the factors of sustainability and worker-rights can be introduced so that the class gets the chance to consider what consumer responsibility might amount to, researching on the internet which groups or organisations might already be working for consumer responsibilities and how their work can be promoted or supported.

[3] FairTrade: A Case Study

By focusing upon Fair Trade or some other organisation promoting consumer responsibility, students could research the role of consumer responsibility with specific products such as tea, coffee, chocolate etc. The importance of these products to some areas of the developing world could be researched.

A class might be asked to research the issues affecting the production of one commodity, or offered a choice from a range of commodities (sugar, tea, coffee, cotton, clothes). The issues which they would be looking at would be how consumer choice affects the lives of those producing the goods, how their choices affect the environment and what difference organisations such as Fair Trade try to make.

• top

Teaching Resources

KS4 No-Ur-Rites Educational Pack (July 2007) New

The educational pack consists of:

• Educational CD-Rom featuring 8 games; 4 looking at issues around alcohol and solvents and 4 looking at consumer rights and Trading Standards
• Card game for Teachers and Youth Workers to use with young people to teach them more about their rights
• Lesson plan covering age restricted products
• 8 page booklet explaining young people’s consumer rights
• Promotional poster
• This pack also links in with no-ur-rites.com website written for young people, by young people. The website discusses topics such as scams, internet shopping, phone unlocking, fake ID cards, debt advice, mobile phone safety, labelling and offers
• www.no-ur-rites.com
• All the materials come with permission to copy

The pack can be used for individual pupils to use in spare time / group work and whole class activities. It can be used for varying abilities and some games may also be suitable for younger children as well. The website allows for current topics to be introduced and discussed.

Copies of the pack can be obtained from us at:

No-ur-rites
Trading Standards Department
45 Grosvenor Road
St. Albans
Herts. AL1 3AW

Tel: 08454 040506 (via Consumer Direct)
Fax: 01727 813877
Minicom: 01727813878
email: tradingstandards@hertscc.gov.uk

Web Resources

[1] The Trading Standards Central website for schools includes information which teachers might find useful as the basis for lesson activities or information to be imparted to students.

[2] The Consumer Education website provides both information for teachers and examples of worksheets and exercises that students might do.

• top

Discussion Points

[1] "All that matters when shopping is getting the best deal possible; the lowest price."

[2] "How does what I buy make any difference to anyone?"

[3] "Boycotting a shop is a waste of time."

• top