Name: _____________________________

Black Friday

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. Refer to
the text to check your answers when appropriate.

The day after Thanksgiving is the start of the

holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is
always on a Thursday, so the day after is a
Friday. This day has come to be known as
Black Friday. It has been the busiest shopping
day of the year since 2005.

Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday.

They open their doors in the wee hours of the
morning. They try to attract shoppers with big
discounts. Some items like TVs are much
cheaper than usual. Stores may even lose
money on these items. They hope that
shoppers will buy gifts for other people while
they are in the store.

Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. So where does the name "Black Friday" come
The problem is that there are not enough low- from? It was first used in Philadelphia in the
priced items to go around. Each store may only 1950s. The police called this day Black Friday
have a few. These items are in high demand. because of the heavy traffic it drew. In the
People stand in long lines to get such great 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big
deals. They may line up hours before a store Friday." It did not stick. The name "Black
opens. They may be hoping to get a low price Friday" continued to spread across the country.
on a TV or laptop, but not everyone who wants It seems that it is here to stay.
one will get one. Some people leave
disappointed. Now people all over the country take part in
the event known as Black Friday. It is even
The situation can be tense. Some Black Friday spreading to other parts of the world. Stores
events have been violent. Large, eager crowds have held Black Friday events in the U.K.,
have trampled workers. Fights have broken out Australia, and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica
over toys or people cutting in line. People have Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro."
shot one another over parking spots. But most And in Mexico, stores offer an annual
Black Friday events are safe and fun. Still, if weekend of discounts. They call it "El Buen
you plan on going, expect large crowds and a Fin," which means "the good weekend" in
bit of shoving. Spanish. I guess the language of savings is
universal.
1. According to the text, why do stores set prices so low on some items that they lose money?
a. They want people to enjoy the holidays.
b. They hope people will buy other gifts while they are in the store.
c. They are in a giving mood because the holiday season is just beginning.
d. They are trying to get rid of old items from last year to make room for new items.

2. Which is not true about Black Friday?

a. Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving.
b. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year.
c. Black Friday is a national holiday.
d. Black Friday is the start of the holiday shopping season.

3. Where does the name Black Friday come from?

a. The police called this day Black Friday because there is a lot of traffic.
b. The stores called this day Black Friday because it is a serious shopping day.
c. The police called this day Black Friday to remember the victims of violence.
d. The stores called this day Black Friday because they make a lot of money.

4. Which best explains the main idea of the third paragraph?

a. People stand in long lines on Black Friday.
b. Black Friday is the best time of the year to get good deals.
c. Black Friday is a really disappointing time of the year.
d. Black Friday deals are limited and not everyone will get one.

5. Which country does not participate in Black Friday?

a. France b. Costa Rica
c. Brazil d. United Kingdom

6. Which happened first?

a. Stores tried to rename the day after Thanksgiving "Big Friday."
b. Black Friday events began happening in Australia.
c. Police began calling the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday."
d. Black Friday became the busiest shopping day of the year.

7. Which title best expresses the author's purpose in writing this text?
a. Black Friday: Stories from the Parking Lot
b. Black Friday: Why You Should Go This Year
c. Black Friday: The Stuff That You Should Know
d. Black Friday: How to Save Money on the Big Day

8. Which best describes the overall structure of the fifth paragraph?

a. chronological order b. problem and solution
c. compare and contrast d. order of importance
9. Which was not cited as one of the downsides of Black Friday?
a. Stores run out of high demand items quickly.
b. Nobody really saves any money on Black Friday.
c. There are large crowds and lots of shoving.
d. Sometimes violence occurs at Black Friday events.

10. Which best explains why Costa Ricans call Black Friday "Viernes Negro"?
a. Costa Rican stores don't want the shopping day associated with American violence.
b. Viernes Negro sounds more exotic and exciting than Black Friday.
c. Costa Ricans want to establish their own shopping tradition.
d. This is how you say "Black Friday" in Spanish, the language of Costa Rica.

Long Response Questions

How do stores try to lure shoppers during Black Friday events? Use the text to support your
response.
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Why is Black Friday a frustrating experience for some people? Refer to the text in your answer.
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Why is violence more likely to occur in a store on Black Friday? Use evidence from the text to
support your response.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2008

Buy Nothing Day

It warmed my heart today to walk into the Thirsty Camel downtown, for a quick lunch before a
haircut and library trip, and be told by Ilan that he was refusing to take money today because it
was Buy Nothing Day. In an effort to increase awareness of the absurd over-consumptive nature
of our society, Ilan suggested a trade for food today. He simply asked that you offer something of
equal personal significance for the meal you received.

At first I was really uncomfortable, wondering if it would be fair to exchange a yet to be

determined IOU for food? What could I give him of equal value? After all, his food is kick ass. I
would go so far as to say his food is the best in Nanaimo! (!!)

We ended up writing our IOU's with promises of a book, some

baking and the offer of labor in a variety of ways if he needs it.
Carpentry skills, gardening, moving help... whatever he needs.

I suppose the idea isn't that the trade is "equal" so much as the
importance of the kind of transaction. We put thought into our
offer and we had an even greater appreciation for the meals we ate.

We don't buy a lot, especially at this upcoming time of year. We

don't give gifts at all in fact. My kids might receive a gift or two from family members, but the
holiday time is spent enjoying each other's company and doing things together with family and
friends. This is a year-round approach and one that seems most sensible.

Ilan is a good person. We are all lucky to have someone like this in our community.

Thirsty Camel: name of the restaurant

Warmed my heart: made me feel good
Absurd: strange
Over-consumptive: consuming (using) too much
Yet to be determined: something we don’t know yet
IOU: “I owe you” (a promise to pay in the future)
Kick ass: really fantastic (in this context)
Nanaimo: a town on Vancouver Island in Canada
Carpentry: making or fixing things made of wood
Transaction: an exchange of one thing for another
BLACK FRIDAY LESSON
LESSON

2 days
Shopping Savvy

What should shoppers know before

they spend their hard earned money?

Overview Materials
• Copies of Preview: Creating a
Students work in small groups to prepare for a news Black Friday Shopping List.
conference as if they worked for a smart shopper One for each student
advocacy campaign prior to “Black Friday.”
• Copies or Electronic access to a
Black Friday doorbuster ad:
Preview Students create a shopping list of things they Suggested site:
http://www.theblackfriday.com/
would buy if given the chance to attend one of the
. Access or copies for each
doorbuster sales for Black Friday. student.

• Copies of Student Handout 1:

Activity In a Problem Solving Groupwork activity,
Preparing for News Conference.
students prepare for a news conference where they are One for each student
pretending to be an advocacy group for consumers.
• Access to internet for groups to
Groups gather research and share their report to prepare
work on.
shoppers for Black Friday shopping.

Processing Students complete Econ Alive! Applying

Economics: Comparison Shopping, p. 31

Objectives
In the course of this lesson and participating in the
classroom activity, students will
• comparison shop.
• determine what steps they should take to be smart credit
card users.
• evaluate the importance of getting good shopping
advice before entering the marketplace.

Key Vocabulary
Comparison shopping, black Friday, needs & wants,
credit
Procedures

Preview
Suggested time: 15 minutes

1. Greet students at the door. Distribute a copy of

Preview: Creating a Black Friday Shopping List to
students as they enter the room.

2. Give students time to create shopping list. Explain

to students they should prepare a shopping list.
Remind them that they have $300 in cash and a credit
limit of $500 on a credit card. Their total for the
shopping spree can not exceed $800. Students can do
their research on the website Preview
http://www.theblackfriday.com/ where consumers can
click on Black Friday ads by numerous retail stores.
(Note: Keep a running clock up for students to see so
that this activity doesn’t take too long.)

3. Debrief the shopping list. Ask the students a series

of questions and the Essential Question (last one) to
debrief the experience of creating their list.
• What were hot items?
• What stores had great deals? Why?
• How did you go about deciding on which items to
buy?
• How did you decide which items you spent with
cash vs. credit?
• Essential Question: What should shoppers know
before they spend their hard-earned money?

Problem-Solving Groupwork
Suggested time: 90 minutes

1. Place students into groups. Group students

heterogeneously into fours.

2. Distribute handouts. Give each student a copy of

Student Handout 1: Preparing for a News
Conference.
Procedures

3. Explain premise of activity. Go over the directions

on Student Handout 1. Make sure groups understand
that their responsibility is to prepare consumers to be
smart consumers in the market place as well as credit
card users.

4. Allow groups time to complete project. Groups

should first assign roles and then check in with you as
they complete the steps necessary in preparing for the
news conference.
• Make sure groups understand they should be
able to present as a group for a minimum of Student Handout 1
five minutes but no more than seven.
• Encourage groups to be creative on how they
put together the resources they would share at
their news conference: brochures, media, etc.
Going Digital
Suggestion
5. Allow groups to present their findings. Set up the There are a number of web
class for a news conference setting. Allow each tools students could use to help
group space and access to media tools (TV or Screen) create resources for their
to present in front of their peers. Challenge the presentation. For example, a
audience to ask questions when complete, especially group might use
www.animoto.com to create a
where the group was able to find their resources. 30 second intro that highlights
Award bonus points based on good what their group will discuss.
questions/answers.

Processing
Suggested In-Class Time: 10 minutes; complete for
homework

1. Have students complete Comparison Shopping

process. Distribute copies of Econ Alive! Applying
Economics: Comparison Shopping (p.31). Go over
directions with students.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute

Comparison Shopping
Handout
Preview: Creating a Black Friday Shopping List

Premise
You are planning on going out in the super-
early morning of Black Friday to go
shopping. You have $300 in cash that
you’ve saved from work and odd jobs. You
also have a credit card with a credit limit of
$500 at 19% APR. What would you buy?
Where? Would you use cash or credit?
Complete this matrix to answer these items.

Use this website to peruse Black Friday

advertisements:
http://www.theblackfriday.com/

Remember that you may NOT spend more than

you have but you also do Not have to spend
all you have. Make sure you total the last
column when complete.

Item? Store? Cash or Amount?

Credit?

Total Cash Total Credit

Student Handout 1: Preparing for a News Conference

Premise
Your group represents a consumer advocacy agency that wants to help consumers
prepare for the coming shopping season. You will prepare for a news conference
where your agency shares research and resources that you believe will help
consumers.

Steps at a Glance: Teacher initials Completion

1. Assign group roles ___
2. Conduct research ___
3. Create resources ___
4. Rehearse presentation ___
5. Present to peers ___

Detailed Steps
1. Assign Group Roles: Each person is responsible for one role in getting their group
ready to present to the class. Put your initials by your role.

___ Spokesperson Responsible for being the agency spokesperson to the

media. This person will work with the writer, producer,
and researcher to pass along important information for
consumers in a dynamic way.
___ Researcher Responsible for finding information and tools that will
allow the group to assist consumers in being savvy
shoppers. This person will assist the writer and producer
in getting the information in a shareable format.
___ Writer Responsible for writing the script that the Spokesperson
will deliver to the media. The writer will work with the
researcher and producer to make sure they incorporate the
important information and tools needed for a consumer to
be a savvy shopper.
___ Producer Responsible for working with the writer and researcher to
pull together resources needed to help consumers be a
savvy shopper. The producer will direct the layout and
delivery of the resources at the news conference.
Student Handout 1: Preparing for a News Conference

2. Conduct research. The researcher will lead the group as they read the handouts on
Comparison Shopping (p. 30) and Being a Savvy Credit Card User (p.62).

The researcher should also direct the other group members to seek out other
resources that might be helpful via the web or print. Some suggested starting points
would be:
• http://www.ehow.com/video_4753351_be-smart-shopper.html
• http://www.creditcardguide.com/creditcards/credit-cards-general/debit-
credit-best-options-holiday-shopping-394/

3. Create Resources. The producer will lead the group as they work to create
resources that can be shared with consumers to help them be savvy shoppers. The
group must have BOTH a print resource, such as a brochure that would be
distributed to consumers AND a digital resource such as a wiki or blog post that
could be shared via social media. Both resources must be the work of this group
and not just simply copied from another person’s work. The writer should work
closely with the producer to make sure that the wording in both formats is
something that is easy to read and understandable.

4. Rehearse Presentation. The producer and writer should help the spokesperson get
ready to present this information to the media (the rest of the class). Practice so
that the spokesperson can speak to the importance of comparison shopping and
credit card use, as well as showcase your group’s tools for consumers. Prepare a
fictional name for your consumer advocacy agency and a logo that will appear at
the news conference.

5. Present to Peers. The rest of your class will act as they are the media while your
agency spokesperson delivers the content of your news conference. Your
spokesperson should introduce the name of your agency along with the group
members in their roles prior to sharing what they have come up with. Each
member of the group will appear with the spokesperson and be available to the
media should they ask questions at the end.
 Section Two

Comparison Shopping
Comparison shopping is a process in which you iden- 2 Research the item. Read reviews of products that
tify what you want to buy and then choose the best might meet your requirements on the Internet.
product and place to buy it. You do this by research- Reviews and surveys also can be found in consumer
ing as much as you can about the item you want to publications and in trade magazines. Also talk to
buy, including features, brands, and vendors. people you know who own specific products, and
ask about their satisfaction with them.
Why comparison shop? 3 Contact stores. Go to several stores and check
Comparison shopping can help you determine the
out the various products. Ask sales staff about the
best product for your needs at the best price. Com-
features that will fit your needs and the brands they
parison shopping also ensures that you do not make
recommend. Think ahead about what questions
impulse buys.
you would like to ask. You might want to write
down your questions and note the information you
How do you comparison shop? receive.
Use these tips and the shopping guide on the next
page to learn more about comparison shopping. 4 Search for savings. Research prices in stores and
on the Internet. Watch newspapers and search the
1 Identify your needs. What will you use the item
Internet for sales, rebates, and coupons. Ask stores
for? For instance, if you are buying a laptop, will it
about student discounts. When comparing the
be for basic word processing only? Or might you
cost of an online item versus one purchased from a
use it for making and sharing videos or designing
store, include the cost of tax and shipping in your
graphics? To start, identify your price range and the
calculations if they will be charged.
necessary features—the criteria on which you will
base your decision. For instance, if you are pur-
chasing a laptop, some features to consider might
be adequate processing power, memory, hard disk
space, and battery life.

ECON_ Toolkit_final.indd 30 12/30/08 10:06:56 AM

 Managing Your Money

Comparison Shopping
Use this guide to comparison shop for an item you want to buy.

Step 1 Choose an item that you are interested in purchasing in the future such as a computer, MP3
player, type of sports equipment, or car.

Step 2 Answer these questions about the item on a separate sheet of paper. Conduct research using
consumer reports, catalogs, trade magazines, or the Internet if you need more information.
• What will you use this item for? Be as specific as possible.
• What is your price range?
• List three features of this item that are most important to you (such as speed, size, and specific func-
tions). Add them to the matrix below.
• List at least three questions you have about the item and about the various brands and models available.

Step 3 Go to a store that carries many versions of the item. Try to visit a specialty store, where salespeople
tend to be more well-informed about the items they carry. Choose at least four products that might meet
your needs, and ask a sales representative the questions you listed above and any others you may have.

Step 4 Copy and complete the matrix on a separate sheet.

Feature 1: Feature 2: Feature 3:

Price ____________ ____________ ____________ Pros and Cons

Product 1
(brand and
model)

Product 2
(brand and
model)

Product 3
(brand and
model)

Product 4
(brand and
model)

Step 5 Narrow your choice to two products. Then research the products online, in Consumer Reports, or
by talking to people you know who own the item. Add any information about the products to the matrix.

Step 6 Determine which item best meets your needs, and explain why.

ECON_ Toolkit_final.indd 31 12/30/08 10:06:56 AM

 Section Four
Being a Savvy Credit Card User
You do not always have to have the cash in hand or
even in your bank account to buy what you want. You
can often buy on credit, which means another institu-
tion pays on your behalf, with the agreement that you
will pay eventually, possibly with interest. When you
use a credit card, you agree to repay the credit card
company the original amount of your purchase—plus
interest, if you take more than about a month to pay.
With a credit card, the temptation to purchase items
you cannot pay for is high. Being a savvy credit card
user means knowing how to use a credit card respon-
sibly and understanding the effect that credit card use
can have on your credit report. A credit report is like a
report card informing lenders about your debt history.
Why be a savvy credit card user?
Good credit can help you buy “big ticket” items, like
a home or car, and increase your chances of getting
lower interest rates on loans and better deals on car
insurance. Accumulating credit card debt can create
financial and emotional turmoil. Problems with your
credit history can make it difficult to get a car loan,
rent an apartment, or even get a cell phone service plan.
How can you be a savvy credit card user?
Credit cards come in handy at critical times and, if
used wisely, can help you build a credit history. Use
these tips and the activity on the next page to become
a savvy credit card user.
1 Spend only what you can afford. Keep track of
what you spend. Use your card only when you know
you can pay for the purchase within the next month.
2 Pay off your balance or keep it low. Credit card
companies make their money when you do not pay
the full amount you owe. The amount you do not
pay off is called your balance. Credit card companies
typically charge you 10% to 20% of the balance,
called interest, every single month. If you do not
pay off your balance right away, that interest can
ECON_ Toolkit_final.indd 62
really add up. People who end up over their heads
in debt often got there because they did not pay off
their credit card balances or keep them low.
3 Pay bills on time. Pay your credit card bills by the
due date. If you are late on a payment, you will be
charged a late fee, your interest rate may increase,
and your credit can be damaged. Pay your bill as
soon as possible after you realize you are late, as ev-
ery day counts. If you cannot pay on time, contact
the credit card company before you miss a payment
to make arrangements for another payment date.
Ask the creditor if your late fee can be waived.
4 Pay more than the minimum due. Making only the
minimum credit card payment required increases
the amount of time you will be paying off your
purchases. As the interest adds up, you will end up
paying a lot more. For example, if you made a $200
purchase and then made only the minimum $10
monthly payments, it would take you 2 years plus
$40 in interest to pay for the purchase. If you cannot
pay off your balance in full, pay as much as you can
beyond the minimum payment each month.
5 Avoid taking cash advances. Cash advances start
incurring interest as soon as you take out the money,
and the interest rate can be higher than the rate for
purchases. You will likely also be charged a cash
advance fee.
6 Review your monthly statements. Check your
monthly bill for any errors. If fees or transactions
are incorrect, contact the creditor immediately and
ask that the issues be corrected.
7 Monitor your credit reports. You can receive free
reports from the three main credit bureaus every
12 months. You can do this online. Check your
reports for errors and dispute any incorrect infor-
mation. Also check for evidence of credit card
accounts that you did not establish to make sure
you have not been a victim of identify theft.
12/30/08 10:07:05 AM
 Using Credit and Borrowing

Using a Credit Card Responsibly

In college, Jasmine used credit cards to purchase things she could not really afford. She planned to make the
minimum payments throughout college and pay the balances off once she graduated and got a job. How-
ever, once the introductory interest rates ended, she found herself paying nearly 20% interest on each card.
Soon she was late on her payments. After graduation, other expenses—like rent, groceries, and utilities—
competed for her money. When she requested a copy of her credit report, this is some of what she saw.

Open accounts: Lists any Date opened: Lists the date you opened the account. The longer you
accounts you currently have. have had an account in good standing, the better your credit record.

OPEN ACCOUNTS
DATE DATE CREDIT PAST
CREDITOR REPORTED OPENED LIMIT BALANCE DUE 30 60 90+ STATUS

WESTERNLAND BANK 10/09 02/05 $5000 $4797 $0 0 0 0 AS AGREED

M’S STORE 10/09 05/05 $500 $158 $0 2 1 0 AS AGREED

EASTERNLAND BANK 10/09 06/08 $4000 $1015 $98 0 0 0 AS AGREED

Credit limit: Shows Balance: Displays your Past due 30/60/90+: Lists the amounts, if
how much credit you balance on the date of the any, you are currently late in paying. The
have been extended. credit report. Keep your “30,” “60,” and “90+” columns list the num-
Try to keep your bal- balance as low as possible by ber of times you were that many days late. To
ance to no more than always paying more than the establish a good credit rating, it is extremely
25% of your limit. minimum due. important that you have no late payments.

DEROGATORY ACCOUNTS
DATE DATE CREDIT PAST
CREDITOR REPORTED OPENED LIMIT BALANCE DUE 30 60 90+ STATUS

CREDIT EXPRESS 10/08 09/05 $5000 $3306 $3306 – – – COLLECTION

Derogatory accounts: Lists any accounts that Status: Shows how the account was closed. In
were closed (in the last 7 to 10 years) because you this instance, it was sent to collection, meaning
did not pay your bills. Having anything in this the company could not get payment from Jas-
section will limit your ability to get new credit. mine so they sold the debt to a collection agency.

Now answer these questions.

1. Based on Jasmine’s credit report, which of the tips did she follow pretty well? Which of the tips did she
not follow very well? Give evidence for your answers.
2. What might be some of the consequences for Jasmine of her credit report?
3. What are three or four things you can do to build good credit?

ECON_ Toolkit_final.indd 63 12/30/08 10:07:05 AM

BLACK FRIDAY E-LESSON INSPIRATION
What is Black Friday?

Overview: CNN interviews co-founder and editor-in-chief of Adbusters, Kalle Lasn. The interview offers
an alternative perspective on our consumerist society.
Topics: Black Friday, consumerism, dissenting voices
Level / Context: upper-intermediate to advanced
Duration: 5.15 min

PRE-VIEWING ACTIVITIES

Set the Scene

Ask your students if they have heard about ‘Black Friday’. If not, give them some background:
Black Friday is the Friday following Thanksgiving Day in the United States (the fourth Thursday
of November), often regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. It is one of
the busiest shopping days of the year when discounts and special deals are offered.
Tell them that as a response to Black Friday, an artist called Ted Dave invented BND. Invite
them to come up with ideas about what the letters might stand for. (Buy Nothing Day)

‘Consequence’ collocations
Write ‘consequence’ on the board, and ask your students to brainstorm words which can stand
in front of it. E.g. political -, immediate -, short-term -, long-term -, psychological -, ecological -,
unintended -, far-reaching -, environmental -, adverse -, unpleasant -. You can also elicit by
putting up the initials and giving some clues. Posing a Group Challenge can boost energy levels:
e.g. ‘Can you come up with 7 common collocations in one minute?’
Then tell them that ‘consequence’ will be a key word in the clip and ask them to listen for the
context it comes up in.

Group Presentations
Give your students some background information on Buy Nothing Day. Form groups of 3-4 and
ask each group to produce an A3 size poster promoting the Day (you will need markers and
paper for each group). Alternatively, they can come up with a slogan, bumper sticker, or make a
recording of a 1-minute ad.
Note: Having produced something of their own around the topic first, will create interest and
focus for listening.
 POST-VIEWING TASKS

Student-generated comprehension questions

Put them into pairs and ask them to write five comprehension questions. If you feel it’s needed,
give some examples. E.g. Who is the man being interviewed? What does the pig represent?
Then listen to their questions and put one question from each pair up on the board. Encourage
them to listen to each other and to tick questions on their list that somebody else mentions.
They can then respond to some of the questions and choose some as a focus for a 2nd listening.

Role play with a twist

Divide the class into As and Bs and give them their roles.
As: You’re looking for a present for a good friend. The birthday is tomorrow so you really need
to buy something now. You enter a shop called ‘Great Presents’.

Bs: You’re a shop assistant working in a shop called ‘Great Presents’. A customer has just
entered the shop. Try to talk her/him out of buying anything. Start by saying, ‘Hello, what are
you doing here?’

Follow-up Search
Assign a key word to different students or groups of students. Ask them to do an internet
search and be ready to present 3 pieces of information / ideas based on what they find out.
This can be homework, or if technology allows, you can give students 5-minutes in-class time.
Then the class listens to their mini-presentations. Key words: Adbusters magazine, Ted Dave,
Occupy Christmas, Voluntary Simplicity, Fair Trade
Note: It’s easy to get lost in detail when doing an internet search. Limiting their presentation to
3 interesting / useful pieces of information encourages them to select and to better process
what they read.