Indiana Social Studies 3.E.1
The Standard
Give examples from the local community that illustrate scarcity of resources and explain how scarcity requires people to make choices and give up other options (i.e., opportunity cost).
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students find resources in their community that cannot meet every want, such as library rooms or park space. They explain the choice someone makes and what other option gets passed up.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain why one library room cannot host two groups at the same time. If the library schedules a craft class instead of a chess club, they can name the chess club as the opportunity cost.
Common Misconceptions
- Some students think scarcity means nothing is available, rather than too little to meet every want. Others name the dollar price as the opportunity cost instead of the best option passed up.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: “The library has one room open Saturday. It chooses a craft class over a chess club.” Ask students to name the scarce resource and the opportunity cost.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have groups spend 10 counters on park cards labeled bench 6, tree 5, bin 4, then name a purchase they gave up.
Ask: “Our library has one room Tuesday afternoon. Should it host chess club or story time? What does it give up?”
Play “One Slot Left” with library room, park field, and empty lot cards; partners propose two uses, choose one, and name the use lost.
Show a photo of your schoolyard; ask which play area could become a garden and what recess activity students would give up.
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Printable 3.E.1 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- E.1.4
Define scarcity, and explain how choices incur opportunity costs, utility, and trade-offs.
- GE.1.2
Define scarcity and explain how opportunity costs and tradeoffs exist.
- 2.E.3
Define opportunity cost and explain that because resources are limited in relation to people’s wants (e.g., scarcity), people must make choices as to how to use...
- 1.E.3
Explain that people must make choices about goods and services because resources are limited in relation to people’s wants (e.g., scarcity).
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