Enhanced Scope and Sequence - Virginia Department of Education ...

Grade 3
Session 1: Scarcity in the Classroom _________________________________________________
Materials
Cups, drinks, popcorn
Napkins
Instructional Activities
1. Explain to the class that you are going to demonstrate an economic condition called scarcity.
2. Pass out a limited number of cups to students, making sure you do not have enough for everyone.
3. When a student says, ―I don’t have a cup,‖ respond by saying, ―I am sorry; I don’t have enough to go around.‖
4. Pour drinks in the cups, making sure you do not have enough for every cup. Again, apologize and say, ―I am
sorry; I don’t have enough to go around.‖
5. Pass out the popcorn, making sure some students are left out. Again, apologize and say, ―I am sorry; I don’t
have enough to go around.‖
6. Lead a discussion about how some people did not receive items and how it made them feel. As the discussion
winds down, write the word scarcity on the board. Tell the students that scarcity exists when there is not
enough of something to go around. Ask what was scarce in each case in the classroom.
7. Because of scarcity, we have to decide who gets the things that are scarce. Discuss ways of dealing with
scarcity—possible answers might include divide, share, take turns, lottery, first-come-first-served, and sell to
those willing to pay.
8. Bring out cups, drinks and popcorn for those students who were left out.
9. Visit the Kid’s Econ Poster Web site, http://www.kidseconposters.com/econsongs.html for songs and
instructional materials on scarcity.
2010 History and Social Science Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence
Virginia Department of Education 103