Indiana Social Studies GE.3.3

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Economic Systems Structures

The Standard

Describe different types of competitive structures in economic systems.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare markets by counting sellers, checking how alike the products are, and looking for barriers to entry. They explain how those features affect prices and customer choice.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given examples such as wheat farms, sneaker brands, cell carriers, and a town water utility, students can name the likely market structure and cite a clue. They can explain why a new competitor might struggle to enter some markets.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call any large company a monopoly, even when customers have other choices. They may assume that many sellers always sell identical goods, or that a monopoly can charge any price without limits.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Classify a town water utility, national cell carriers, local pizza shops, and wheat farms by market structure. Give one clue for each choice.

Lesson moves

Run two rounds of a pencil market with play money, first with four sellers, then with one; record the prices buyers agree to pay.
Ask: Two towns each have a pharmacy, but one town has four more nearby. Which pharmacy could raise prices more easily, and why?
Give pairs cards labeled wheat farms, sneaker brands, cell carriers, and town water utility; have them sort the cards by market structure.
Compare two local pizza menus and write how their different products affect prices and customer choice.

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