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Let's go shopping

Unit Overview

This unit of work has been developed for upper primary students. Primarily a maths unit of work, it also allows students to critically evaluate the internet as a shopping tool and assess the benefits and pitfalls of online shopping. Students will have opportunities to:

· plan and 'purchase' items on the internet

· develop skills in budgeting and decision making

· critically evaluate internet shopping and make comparisons with conventional shopping

· work independently and in groups to research and report on their findings.

The topic can be approached in a variety of ways. The unit asks students to undertake shopping for their family and close friends from an unexpected windfall but this could be easily adapted to any number of situations - Christmas shopping, shopping for class camps/household management etc.

Students will work independently or in pairs. They will be expected to stick to the prescribed budget, plan and record purchases, and take note of any problems or obstructions that they come across.

An alternative is to have the students compile a Christmas or birthday wish list for their families that is based on 'reasonable' and possible requests - Porsches and trips to London are excluded. Students predict how much they think they would spend, and then use the internet to find out the actual costs. This is a very useful lesson in the cold realities of shopping!

Useful sites for teachers and students:

· www.yellowpages.com.au - links to a large range of commercial and retail sites

· www.amazon.com - Amazon Book Store

· www.dymocks.com.au - book shopping on line

· http://www.ozgifts.com.au/ Australian online shopping service

Additional information

Most stores have a shopping trolley system, where purchases can be added to carts. Instuct the students to follow the whole process through until they are required to give credit card details etc. That’s when they leave! It may be useful to discuss with students the dangers involved in using credit cards without permission and the moral/ legal ramifications.

Your task

You have just heard that your long lost aunt Winifred has died and left you a considerable amount of money. The only condition is that you share some of your good luck with your nearest and dearest before you inherit your fortune.

You have $1000 to spend on presents for your family and your closest friends.This must include postage and handling costs. Any money left unspent over $10 will be given to your worst enemy. You have been given a credit card with the $1000 limit. This can not be exceeded.

When you have finished shopping for everyone else, you may spend $200 on yourself. $200 will be added to your credit card limit when your family shopping has been completed and checked.

You must keep clear and accurate records of your purchases and make some comments on your shopping expereinces. A proforma for these records is included.

Things to consider

Overseas purchasing

If you make purchases at sites outside of Australia the prices listed will need to be converted to Australian dollars, whch will often inflate the prices quite considerably. Overseas postage and handling costs will also add to the costs. Some overseas stores will not deliver outside their country so check this carefully before you try to buy.

Credit card security

What kind of security do the stores offer against credit card fraud? (password system, secure server etc) Bigger stores are usually safer options.

Budgeting and division of money

You may first want to make a list of the people you need to buy for and the amount of money you will roughly need for each person. While you don’t need to spend the same amount on everyone, remember that spending $900 on your best friend and $100 combined on your mum, dad and seven brothers and sisters may create problems you may not want to deal with!

Warranty and servicing

What protection do you have if goods are faulty? Will you need to send things back to an overseas address if things go wrong? Who will have to pay for these costs? (And it's not your rellies…)

To be completed and signed by you, the inheritor:

I, _______________________________ undertake to fulfil the conditions of my dear Aunt Winifred's will. I understand that when this is all completed I will inherit her estate, valued at $6 000 000.

I agree to abide by the stated conditions or I understand that the estate will pass to the Tiddles Cat Home.

Signed Witnessed

Name	Gifts	Website Where Purchased	Amount spent








			Total

Comments - Please answer the following questions. Feel free to add any other comments.

How easy did you find this?

What problems did you encounter?

Could you shop on the internet without a credit card?

Do you prefer shopping on line or conventional shopping? Why?