Lesson Plan
A Place to Hang Your Hat by Consumer Jungle
Grade Levels
Commencement, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Lesson Objectives
- Students will compare the costs of potential housing alternatives.
- Students will compare the advantages and disadvantages of potential housing alternatives by searching the classified advertising section of the local newspaper.
Duration
50-60 minutes
Description
Working individually or in groups of two, students will identify the average costs of a variety of housing alternatives and the advantages and disadvantages of each type. When they finish this lesson, students identify the best housing option for them personally.
This lesson is one part of a larger unit, Independent Living. While completing this unit, students will learn about: landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities; deciphering rental and leasing agreements; costs of establishing a first residence; benefits of budgeting; major categories of living expenses; surviving and thriving with roommates.
Consumer Jungle units are designed to be flexible, and can be used as one integrated unit or individual segments. If you are planning to use the unit in its entirety, please see the Related Content field for the additional lessons. The End of Unit Assessment field contains links to the vocabulary, concept, and content quizzes for the unit.
Materials
Step-by-Step Procedure
- Pass out the A Place to Hang Your Hat student worksheet and instruct students to work individually or in small groups.
- Distribute copies of the rental advertising section of your local newspaper or have students work online at classroom computers.
- Direct students to find different types of rental housing.
- Ask students to find an ad for the most and least expensive place for each type of rental housing and list the rent for these places on their handouts.
- Instruct students to identify and list the advantages and disadvantages of each type of rental housing listed on their handout. It's important to remind students that expense is only one factor in choosing a place to live.
- Discuss advantages and disadvantages, such as: privacy, location, loneliness, living space, companionship, proximity to work, friends, and laundry facilities.
- Ask the students to complete this exercise by identifying the type of housing they will most likely pursue when they decide to move out on their own.
- Discuss as the class the findings. Have students reflect on the experience - what surprised them about the costs? What did they learn?
Related Content
End of Unit Assessment
Students can take the vocabulary and concept quizzes via pen and paper.
Downloads:
Content Provider
Consumer Jungle is dedicated to providing young adults with the life skills they need to become responsible, informed consumers. Consumer Jungle provides engaging and relevant consumer education curricula covering a variety of topics such as credit cards, transportation, living on your own, personal finances, telecommunications, health, and e-commerce fraud. Developed with input from teachers, students, and parents, Consumer Jungle delivers interactive games, activities, and relevant information directly to the home or classroom.
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