Recent national survey results underscore the importance of economic and financial education: It appears that many Americans are making poor financial choices in such basic areas as saving for long-term goals and managing personal credit. Social studies teachers need to reexamine the contribution that the social studies curriculum can make in…

This essay reviews the history of school commercialization in the USA and the forms that it has taken over time, with particular attention paid to research measuring the scope and variety of commercialization trends in US public schools. The implications of commercialization activities such as those that promote the consumption of nutritionally…

The Ledger compiles and disseminates information about economic education from various sources. The newsletter is published during the school year as a public service by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Typical issues contain a lead article, announcement of upcoming workshops, innovative educational programs, and listings of material. A lead…

Offers a unit for sixth graders on consumer education. The unit includes a collection of activity ideas for teaching about money, goods and services, smart shopping practices, and advertising. Includes a brief list of printed and organizational resources. (JDH)

Shows how newspapers can provide valuable information for an individual's three economic personalities--consumer, producer, and citizen. Describes class activities using the newspaper to explore information related to these roles. (MM)

Discusses methods that can be used to encourage students to use chemical principles to evaluate claims made in advertising. Considers weight loss diets, structure and properties, and reproducibility of evidence. (CW)

Three moderately/mildly retarded adults were trained in adaptive community skills. Treatment involved instructions, performance feedback, social reinforcement, in-vivo modeling, self-evaluation, and social and tangible reinforcement. Rapid and dramatic improvements occurred soon after treatment began. Skills generalized to other shopping…

Analyzes the content and images presented in textbooks used to teach English as a second language to adults during two different periods: just after World War I and the present. During the first time period the researchers found that concerns of citizenship were critical; in the present, concerns over consumerism are dominant. Includes a table and…

Background information, learning activities, and educational resources for a lesson unit on food additives is provided. Advantages and disadvantages of additives are discussed. (PP)

Discusses "Cobblestone," a social studies magazine, and "Penny Power," a consumer education publication, in this the second of a two-part article concerning content area periodicals for intermediate grade students. (FL)

The mathematical nature of the product barcode that now appears on many supermarket goods is discussed. Particular attention is given to the nature and formula of a "check digit" used to verify that product numbers are correctly scanned. Several possible student activities related to this code and others are suggested. (MP)

It is the health educator's responsibility to provide the consumer with information about toxic shock syndrome (TSS). An educational program should be developed which would encompass four areas: a description of TSS, an outline of theorized causes, a discussion of tampon health risks, and mechanisms for consumer action. (JN)

Federal legislation established nutrition and social welfare programs for the elderly. In order to determine the patterns of life of the elderly, a survey was done of those who participated in a nutrition program in 20 rural areas in Missouri. Data indicated a need for nutrition and consumer education which focuses on the elderly and declining…

Examines the current status of self-care and self-help as they relate to health, and explores their potential in enhancing the health of the elderly. It is based on a review of the literature, and reports from self-care conferences and interviews with individuals interested and active in the field. (Author)

The main appeal of corporation-produced consumer education materials is their "free or inexpensive" aspect. But the very low price of these items may have a high cost in the form of their biased perspectives. Teachers must exercise continued care in selecting and using consumer education materials. (Author/SJL)