Lesson 1 Being an Informed Consumer

This lesson is designed to be delivered in 40 minutes. Slides can be

adjusted or amended as the teacher sees fit or feels appropriate for
the class.
Aims and Objectives
By the end of this class, students will be able to:
Define a consumer
Explain when someone is not protected under consumer law
Differentiate between an offer and an invitation to treat
(Senior students will have already covered contract law, and
therefore will already know about consideration)
Behave in a sensible and informed manner when making
purchasing decisions
Materials

Student worksheet and blank Venn Diagram (to be

photocopied prior to class
Lesson 1 PowerPoint
Blank A4 sheets, colour if possible

Introduction
Open Lesson 1 PowerPoint and provide an overview for the class of
the material to be covered in the lesson (Slides 1 & 2)
Slide 3: Ask the students to work in pairs to answer the question
What is a consumer? Think-pair-share: Students must first think of
an answer individually, write their answer separately and then use
both answers to come up with the best possible definition. Allow
two minutes. Take feedback from the class. Display the remainder
of slide 3. Students can copy notes into their class copy if the
teacher feels it is appropriate. (discussion could fit in here about
grey areas e.g. a home PC thats used for working during the day
Monday to Friday, a car bought to do take-away deliveries at
weekends)
Slide 4: When is someone not a consumer? Pose the question and
take brief feedback. Display rest of the slide, explaining each point

Slide 5: Venn Diagram showing the differences and similarities

between a consumer and a customer. Distribute the blank Venn
Diagram to the students, who should write key words into the
appropriate sections, e.g. similarities: both buy goods and services.
Differences: a consumer buys goods and services for their own use
while a customer may buy goods for resale, e.g. business OR they
may buy goods as a gift, etc. Gift-receivers should not be
discouraged from following up on their consumer rights, and the
giver should ask for a gift receipt and pass it on with the gift)
Slide 6: Basic introduction and explanation of contract law, e.g.
soccer player contracts always bring this topic to life. Give other
examples of consumer and retailer contracts.
Slide 7: Distinguishing between an invitation to treat and an offer.
There are opportunities here for revision for senior students on other
elements of a contract acceptance, consideration - and intention
to create legal relations. Teachers can also ask students for
examples of where a seller is allowed to refuse to sell you
something (e.g. cigarettes/alcohol).
Slide 8 - 10: Think-pair-share working in pairs, students must think
of questions that they should ask before buying a good or service.
Teacher will take feedback and can then reveal the rest of the slide.
The CE Mark (in slide 9) is required for these type of products to
show they meet minimum European safety standards.
Slide 11: Summary of Lesson. Students to complete worksheet (on
back of Venn Diagram) handout before they leave the class.
Homework assignment
Teacher will distribute blank A4 sheets of paper. Students must use
them to create a poster advising consumers on good practice when
making purchasing decisions.
Suggestions:
Students could create a mind-map, use graphics or simply
type/write question
Best poster could be reduced to ID card/business card size and
laminated. An A4 page would be reduced down to ATM card size, so
students should be told not to put too much text on the page, or it
will be very small when reduced.