Virginia SOL S.3.g

Social Studies3rd Grade

The Standard

using economic decision-making models to make informed economic decisions

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students compare two or more choices by listing costs, benefits, and tradeoffs. They use that information to choose an option and explain why.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student completes a simple decision chart with accurate costs and benefits. The student selects an option and supports it with evidence from the chart.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think the cheapest choice is always best or that every choice has one correct answer. They may list the money spent but miss what they give up by choosing one option.
How to Assess It: Give students a choice between buying a book or a game with $10. Ask them to list one cost and benefit of each, then justify a choice.

Lesson moves

Give groups 10 tokens and price cards for classroom supplies, then have them choose purchases and explain what they gave up.
Ask students to write which class reward they would choose, extra recess or a movie, using two benefits and one cost.
Play a choice card game where pairs sort options into costs, benefits, and tradeoffs before selecting the better option.
Compare two snack options using price, amount, nutrition, and taste, then have students recommend one for a class event.

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