ShopSmart - Teacher's briefing notes
Presented by Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service.
Introduction:
Shopsmart is an interactive teaching resource aimed at KS2 children. It is designed to capture their imagination whilst getting across information about safe, wise, legal and healthy shopping.
The theme we are using is S H O P. Is it:
- Safe?
- Honest?
- OK to eat?
- Permitted?
Learning outcomes
After attending ShopSmart pupils will be able to:
- understand that everyday familiar products offered for sale may be hazardous and not necessarily safe. Be able to check for specific hazards, exercise choice, and make appropriate critical buying decisions. (Safe)
- distinguish between counterfeit and genuine products and become aware of the dangers and consequences of buying fakes and copies. (Honest)
- know the difference between "Best before" and "use-by" dates on food. Understand the importance of reading the label. (OK to eat)
- recognise that some widely available products are age-restricted for sensible health or safety reasons and know the relevant ages. (Permitted ie. are the children allowed to buy it?)
Curricular links:
PHSE, Healthy Schools, and Citizenship.
Pupils will be split into two groups. Each group is a number of questions. On each of two tables (one for each group) are a number of products giving 3 or 4 answers to each question. The pupils are asked to work out which one is the correct answer. The topics covered are toy safety, under age sales, healthy eating, counterfeit goods and value for money
The activity is not a test, but designed to encourage pupils to develop critical buying habits, look for and at product labels and warnings, and be aware of the age restriction attached to the sale of specific goods.
Messages in each area:
Safe:
- Examination of dangerous, and potentially dangerous toys.
- All toys should be CE marked.
- Some toys may display a warning that they are not suitable for children under 36 months old.
- Toys without this warning should not have small parts that could be a choking hazard.
- The significance of the "Lion" mark.
Honest:
- Dangers/other problems with counterfeit goods
- Counterfeits - telltale signs.
OK to eat:
- Labelling
- Storage
- Durability indications - "Best before" and "use by" dates
- Hazard information (e.g. contains nuts)
Permitted - ages at which it is permitted to buy goods:
- Alcoholic drinks (18)
- Liqueur chocolates (16)
- Cigarettes (18)
- Lighter fuel (18)
- Fireworks (18)
- Lottery tickets (16)
- Videos (various)
