Georgia SS2E1

Social Studies2nd GradeEconomic Understandings

The Standard

Explain that because of scarcity, people must make choices that result in opportunity costs.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify situations where there is not enough time, money, or materials for every want. They explain the choice made and name the next best option given up.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can examine a simple scenario, identify the limited resource, and choose between two options. The student can clearly state the opportunity cost of that choice.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think scarcity means having nothing rather than not having enough for every want. They may name money as the opportunity cost instead of the next best option given up.
How to Assess It: Give this exit ticket: “Mia has time to play one game. She chooses tag instead of soccer. What is scarce, and what is her opportunity cost?”

Lesson moves

Give pairs five counters and a picture menu, then have them choose between two affordable items and name the item they gave up.
Ask students to write: “I had to choose between two activities. I chose ___, so I gave up ___.”
Play a choice card game where students draw a limited-resource card, select one option, and identify the next best option lost.
Use a school lunch example to discuss choosing one snack when there is only enough money for one item.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS2E1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Keep exploring

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.