FTC web site helps students become smarter consumers

‘You Are Here,’ a web site from the Federal Trade Commission, provides lessons on advertising, marketing, recognizing scams, protecting personal information, and other consumer concepts. The site is intended for students in fifth through eighth grade and can be used to complement lessons in critical thinking, writing, language arts, media literacy, business, civics, and social studies. In a virtual mall, students can play games, design ads, chat with customers and store owners, and more. Along the way, they’ll learn about key concepts, such as business competition, supply and demand, mergers and monopolies, and the history and purpose of the FTC. Students also can learn about protecting their privacy (both online and off), then lay a game in which they protect the citizens of Earth against identity-stealing invaders. A “Parents and Teachers” page contains suggested activities and ways to use the site in your classroom. http://www.ftc.gov/YouAreHere/ ^[1]