The food experience involves much more than physical nourishment but also the practice of acquiring, preparing, and sharing food that defines the foodscape. This lesson will look at the term foodscape and describe its application to Mexican migrants developed in the thesis "Transnational Mexican Foodscapes in Colorado Springs" (Greenleaf…

Recently the authors completed a course designed to expand and deepen their knowledge about America's consumerocracy and the methods that give it the immense power it has. As a result of their reading and shared thinking in this course, Teaching Adolescents in a Consumer Society, they feel strongly motivated and better prepared to craft…

Demonstrates the application of spreadsheet analysis in solving equations beyond quadratics. Considers the costs of interest, gasoline, and maintenance in deciding how long it pays to keep a car. (MKR)

Describes a six-week economics project for high school students. Suggests teaching consumer economics by having students pretend they are broke and out on their own. Discusses activities, materials, and student essays demonstrating the use and understanding of basic consumer terminology, credit, insurance, budgeting, and housing. (DK)

This annotated bibliography of resources for family and consumer science teachers lists 59 items developed for "Teacher Pages" (an electronic information service) by Penn State Cooperative Extension Service between December 1, 1993 and December 1, 1994. Each listing includes a short description, source, address, price if appropriate, and…

This issue focuses on commodities trading as an essential economic tool. Activities include critical thinking about marketing decisions and discussion on how futures markets and options are used as important economic tools. Discussion questions and a special student project are included. (EH)

This booklet focuses on the economic concept of "value added" to goods and services. A student activity worksheet illustrates how the steps involved in processing food are examples of the concept of value added. The booklet further links food processing to the idea of value added to the Gross National Product (GNP). Discussion questions,…

The analysis of public goods is presented with a discussion of the rules for fertilizer and pesticide storage units in Indiana. A basic rule summary is presented with descriptions of the types of dikes that might be considered for containment. Estimated costs are projected along with the number of contained liquid fertilizer spills by size in…

This article describes a functional mathematics activity to help secondary students with mild disabilities develop critical thinking, calculation, and reasoning skills by evaluating the "rent-to-own" option for furnishing an apartment. Suggestions address needed materials, prerequisite skills, procedures, sample worksheets, and modifications. (DB)

This courseware evaluation rates the "Personal Consumerism" program developed by Aquarius People Materials. (The eight-program series--not contained in this document--includes understanding labels, consumer help, consumer fraud, consumer law, comparative shopping, consumerism and you, reading an advertisement, and tips on buying a used…

Presents cost analyses of building a patio, incorporating manipulatives, pattern building, graphing calculators, matrix applications, and functions. Includes reproducible student worksheet. (MKR)

The Illinois State Board of Education in cooperation with the Illinois Consumer Education Association produced this lesson plan book as a resource for teachers as they implement the consumer education mandate in secondary schools. Classroom instruction ideas, techniques, and lessons were provided by teachers from Illinois. A committee of consumer…

This curriculum guide for high school students contains 20 information acquisition lessons, 6 values awareness lessons, and 5 open-ended discussion lessons. Some lessons contain activities that extend over several days; other lessons contain one specific activity. The nutrition education goals are directed toward the attainment of nutrition…

Analysis of the world market and trade deficits and surpluses are used to examine global economics. The GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) is discussed and presented with the various perspectives on the agreement. A forecast for economics of the '90s and a quiz are included. (EH)

Presents an example that illustrates the connection between taxation of private goods or services and provision of public goods or services. Demonstrates that the burdens of taxation in the private sector can in theory be offset by gains in consumer surplus in the public sector, providing a more balanced view than can be found in many introductory…