Opportunity Costs

Explore how every choice has a trade-off—or an opportunity cost—with this engaging and relatable economics worksheet! Designed for middle school leaners, this social studies worksheet asks students to investigate how all of the choices we make result in an opportunity cost, or the option that we give up when we choose an alternative. After reading some background information and exploring examples of opportunity costs, learners will practice identifying opportunity costs in the context of real-world scenarios. Then students will pull inspiration from their own lives in order to identify a decision they have faced, as well as the resulting opportunity cost. This one-page exercise is a great way to help learners understand the impact of economics on their everyday lives.