Description of Lesson:

• Orientation [5 mins] - As a class, students develop a Plus, Minus and Interesting (PMI) chart for the question: "Should we always choose the purchase with the best value for money?" (See Worksheet 4)
• Launch [10 mins] - Introducing terminology: 'unit pricing'. Students will examine how unit prices are calculated. Explain that unit prices are based on the most appropriate unit of measurement, which is usually written on the packaging. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) provides guidelines for unit pricing. [Watch this ACCC video for an overview of 'unit price': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYbTBVDNHYE&feature=youtu.be] Students are to follow the Grocery Unit Prices ACCC link to find the units of measurement that would generally be used for products of weight, volume, length, area and number (See Worksheet 4). (LIT)
• Explore
  • Activity 1 [10 mins] - Read through Resource 1 (See Worksheet 4) with the class. The handout models the calculations used to find unit prices and is often reasonably simple to estimate an answer.
  • Activity 2 [20 mins] - Use advertising brochures or online supermarket catalogues calculate the unit pricing for the same grocery items e.g. breakfast cereal or shampoo. Using Resource 2 (See Worksheet 4), students calculate the unit price for each item (When calculating unit prices, round to two decimal places). In small groups (up to 4), students consider the questions below:
    • How can unit pricing impact on grocery purchases?
    • How can unit pricing support a reduction in spending?
    • Is unit pricing well understood by shoppers? (LIT)
• Summarise [5 mins] - Discuss briefly other purchases where unit pricing can be applied. Include both products and services. A range of household services can be included in the discussion e.g. internet use, phone services, gas and electricity supply, water use. Explain to students that the remainder of this unit will focus on mobile phone use but the principles covered can be applied to any area of spending. (AFL)