Designed to meet Illinois state law requirements for consumer education to be taught before graduation from high school, this guide outlines the major topics to be included in the mandatory nine weeks of consumer education. Because the law neither stipulates a specific grade level for this material, nor requires its introduction as a separate course, this guide suggests various times and methods for integrating it into the grades 8-12 curriculum. The topics covered are as follow: (1) the individual consumer in the marketplace; (2) money management; (3) consumer credit; (4) goods and services, including human services, housing, food, transportation, clothing, health services, drugs, recreation, and home furnishings and appliances; (5) insurance; (6) savings and investments; (7) taxes; and (8) the consumer in our economy. Student objectives are identified for each subject area, as well as suggested learning activities, such as research, guest speakers, class discussions, field trips, and written exercises. While bibliographies of instructional materials with one-sentence annotations conclude the sections on specific topics, a general list of resource organizations and government agencies is provided at the end of the publication. (ELG)