Alabama Social Studies SS24.E.1a

Social Studies12th GradeFundamental Economic Concepts

The Standard

SS24.E.1: Investigate and share information on how scarcity can impact factors of production and the decision-making of individuals, businesses, and governments.

Explain the relationship between scarcity as a basic condition of economics and the decision-making needed to allocate limited resources.

2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students spot when limited resources cannot cover every want. They decide how to use those resources and explain what they must give up.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a fixed budget and competing needs, a student makes a plan that stays within the limit. They explain why a choice is needed and name the best alternative they gave up.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think scarcity means a resource has run out or that only poor communities face it. They may try to fund every need even when the costs exceed the budget.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A town has $10,000; road repairs cost $8,000, and pantry supplies cost $7,000. Allocate the money, explain why both cannot be fully funded, and name what goes unfunded.

Lesson moves

Give groups 10 paper tokens and project cards priced at 6, 7, and 8 tokens; have them choose what to fund.
Ask students to write: Should a town spend its last $10,000 on road repairs or pantry supplies, and what would it give up?
Deal pairs project cards costing 4, 6, and 8 tokens; give them 10 tokens, then 7, and compare their choices.
Give students a grocery flyer and a $30 lunch budget; have them plan five lunches and list foods they cannot afford.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS24.E.1a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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