Enhancing Social Studies Instruction through Consumer Education

The document contains theoretical and practical information to aid social studies classroom teachers as they develop and implement consumer education programs. The monograph is presented in three major sections. Section I illustrates the kinds of theoretical content the author believes are appropriate for a school consumer education program. Suggested topics are consumer behavior, personal economics, the consumer in the economic system, government role, and the consumer in the marketplace. Section II offers suggestions for teaching consumer education. One activity is described for each of the primary grades and two activities are described for use at the junior high school and senior high school levels. Activities involve students in identifying and explaining terms, problems, and concepts in the primary grades, taking fill-in-the-blank tests and comparing prices in junior high school, and reading and analyzing economic materials at the senior high school level. For each activity information is presented on performance objectives, instructional materials needed, and definitions. Descriptions of the activities are given, also. Section III presents an annotated listing of 25 consumer education resources in the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) System. (DB)