Grade 6 · Social studies · 30 minutes
Unit 3 · Civic and Economic Choices · Lesson 2 of 2
Scarcity, Opportunity Cost and Claims
Distinguish facts, opinions and reasoned judgments in an economic choice.
Mr. S Teaches · Original starter mini-lesson · MS6-SOC-06Learning objective
Identify the next-best alternative forgone and classify three statements using the supplied evidence.
Before you begin
- Subtract whole numbers and describe a preference.
Gather your materials
- Paper and pencil
- The original model sources, diagram or figures printed in this lesson
Language to know
- scarcity
- Having limited resources relative to possible uses.
- opportunity cost
- The next-best alternative given up when a choice is made.
- opinion
- A preference or belief that is not established as a fact by the evidence.
- reasoned judgment
- A conclusion supported by evidence and an explained criterion.
Understand the concept
Original fictional class-store memo: “Our group has 12 tokens. A notebook costs 12; a pencil set costs 8; a folder costs 4. We may keep unused tokens. The group already has loose paper but needs a way to organize its research notes. Blue covers look best. Choosing a notebook would provide bound pages, though it would mean giving up the pencil-set-plus-folder package.” The budget and prices are stated facts within this scenario. The color preference is an opinion. A recommendation based on organizing notes can be a reasoned judgment. Opportunity cost is the best forgone alternative, not every possible rejected item or just the price.
Teach it step by step
- List affordable options and include the combined pencil/folder package and the option to keep tokens.
- Separate the memo’s prices from its preference and its recommendation. Identify what evidence could support a choice.
- Rank two options for an explicit goal, then name the next-best alternative forgone.
- Explain how a different need or preference could change the ranking without changing the prices.
Make the thinking visible
Worked example or model response
If the goal is bound research notes and the group ranks notebook first, pencil-set-plus-folder second and saving tokens third, the opportunity cost of the notebook is the pencil/folder package. “Blue looks best” is an opinion; “the notebook costs 12 tokens” is a scenario fact. The ranking depends on the goal, not the fact that two options cost the same.
Guided practice
Classify “the group has 12 tokens,” “blue covers look best,” and “a notebook is useful for bound notes because it holds pages together.” Explain each classification.
Independent practice
Choose a different first-ranked option, state a goal, rank a next-best alternative and explain the opportunity cost. Write one fact and one reasoned judgment about your choice.
Quick assessment
Why is opportunity cost not necessarily the number of tokens spent? Use the notebook example.
Answer key & assessment criteria
Answers and teaching guidance
- Guided: 12 tokens is a stated scenario fact; blue looks best is an opinion; the bound-notes claim is a reasoned judgment because it links a feature to a purpose.
- Independent criteria: the option must fit 12 tokens; a goal and second-ranked affordable alternative must be explicit. Choosing pencils plus folder could forgo a notebook if it is next-best. A price is a fact; a recommendation needs a reason tied to the goal.
- Assessment: the price is 12 tokens, but opportunity cost is the next-best use forgone, such as the pencil/folder package. Its identity depends on the stated ranking.
Look for: Check that learners name a specific next-best alternative rather than all alternatives or the purchase price, and support their classifications from the memo.
Make it work for your learner
More support
Use 12 paper tokens and item cards. Sort quoted statements into fact, opinion and supported judgment before writing.
Extension challenge
Change one price and explain how that could affect an affordable set and its opportunity cost; separate the new fact from a revised judgment.
Selected contributions · Official sources
Standards connections
Subject-content alignment not yet verified
Supporting Common Core literacy connection
RH.6-8.8Common Core · Grades 6–8
Distinguish facts, opinions and evidence-based judgments in an economic text.
Read the official standard ↗Uses a supplied fictional economic memo for literacy analysis. Opportunity-cost content is instructional and subject-content alignment has not been verified.
Source and mapping checked 2026-11-04. This mini-lesson contributes selected skills; it does not claim full attainment.