Economics: Understanding Supply and Demand

Title: Understanding Supply and Demand

Compliance: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts

Subject: Economics

Summary: This activity will engage ninth-grade students in understanding the concepts of supply and demand through a hands-on project that incorporates crafting and organization skills.

Topic: Supply and Demand in Economics

Learning Outcomes:

• Know the definitions of supply and demand
• Understand the relationship between supply and demand
• Apply the concepts of supply and demand to real-world scenarios
• Create a visual representation of supply and demand

Methodology:

This activity will be conducted over a span of two class periods. The first class period will focus on introducing the concepts of supply and demand through a brief lecture and class discussion. The second class period will be dedicated to the hands-on project.

Resources/Materials Required:

• Whiteboard or projector for lecture
• Chart paper or large poster boards
• Markers, colored pencils, or crayons
• Scissors and glue
• Magazines or newspapers
• Construction paper or cardstock

Instructions:

Step 1: Introduction (Class Period 1)

1. Begin the class by asking students if they have ever experienced a situation where the price of a product increased or decreased. Discuss their responses and encourage them to think about why these changes occur.
2. Introduce the concepts of supply and demand, explaining that supply refers to the quantity of a product or service available in the market, while demand refers to the quantity of a product or service that consumers are willing to buy at a given price.
3. Provide examples to help students understand the relationship between supply and demand. For example, if the supply of a product decreases while the demand remains the same, the price of the product will likely increase.
4. Engage students in a class discussion to ensure their understanding of the concepts.

Step 2: Hands-on Project (Class Period 2)

1. Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
2. Provide each group with chart paper or large poster boards, markers, scissors, and glue.
3. Explain that each group will create a visual representation of supply and demand using cutouts from magazines or newspapers.
4. Ask students to search for images or headlines that represent products or services in high demand and those in low demand. They should also find images or headlines that represent products or services with high supply and those with low supply.
5. Once the students have gathered their materials, instruct them to create a collage on the chart paper or poster board, arranging the images and headlines to visually depict the concepts of supply and demand.
6. Encourage creativity and critical thinking as students design their collages.
7. Allow time for each group to present their collages to the class, explaining the reasoning behind their choices and how they represent supply and demand.

Assessment:

To assess student learning, use the following criteria:

• Participation in class discussion (Know, Understand)
• Completion of the collage project (Apply, Create)
• Quality of presentation and explanation of the collage (Apply, Create)

Provide feedback to students based on their understanding of the concepts and the creativity demonstrated in their collages.