To help students understand consumer concepts, the guide suggests ways of using general merchandise catalogs and other community resources in the classroom. Specifically, the guide aims toward raising living standards by making consumer education part of daily life and preparing young people for economic choices. The document is presented in six chapters. Chapter I lists general objectives related to using catalogs in the classroom. Chapter II describes goals and activities in 14 areas -- values, opportunity costs, comparison shopping, advertising, product features, quality and price, returns, exchanges and service, warranties, labels and packaging, retail credit, wardrobe planning and clothing selection, home furnishing and equipment, insurance, and consumer rights and responsibilities. Chapter II suggests how to use catalog advertisements of knit sport shirts and tops, jeans, tape recorders, grooming aids, and catalog yellow pages in the classroom. Chapter IV describes other teaching techniques, including discussion questions, attitude surveys, world association, VIP profiles, individual and group projects, legislative analysis, quotations, shopping slogans, and open-end situations. Chapters V and VI suggest how community and resource materials can help students understand the role of the consumer in the community and in the economy. The appendix presents sample letters which students can use as guides in contacting outside sources. (DB)