Lesson Plan - Buyer Beware!

Watch the Video
Before reading, play the video “Digital Decisions.” Pause after each scenario to discuss with your students how they would respond, then listen to advice from media literacy experts.

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

•  enhance
•  deceived

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about whether they have ever spent real money in a gaming app by mistake.

1. Summarize the main ideas of the section “Not Always Free.”
The section “Not Always Free” is mainly about how games that are free to download and play can still end up costing players a lot of money. Players get charged when they buy items within the app. This is a big money-maker for game companies.
_{(RI.4.2 Main Idea and Key Details)}

2. Based on the article, what is one reason kids can end up paying big bucks for in-app purchases without realizing it?
Based on the article, one reason kids can end up paying big bucks for in-app purchases without realizing it is that many games use virtual money. The article explains, “It can be easy to click a button without knowing what it really means.”
_{(RI.4.1 Text Evidence)}

3. How can changing your device settings help you avoid huge in-app charges?
Changing your device settings can help you avoid huge in-app charges by making it impossible to make in-app purchases or by notifying your parents whenever you try to make an in-app purchase.
_{(RI.4.5 Cause and Effect)}

FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Diagram
Distribute the skill builder “Be App Smart!” and explain that it features an in-app purchase menu for a fictional game. Have students read the menu, then answer the questions. Discuss how these fictional in-app purchases compare with those in real games students play.
_{(RI.4.7 Text Features)}