This short unit is based on the Year 5 Australian Curriculum HASS Inquiry Skills, Knowledge and Understandings for Economics and Business. This is the first time in the curriculum where students learn about the study of economics, and forms the basis of a lot of future economics topics. Because they are the seeds of later economics study, it does not have much depth, and the topics can seem disparate. It is a great introduction for your students to learn about wants, needs, scarcity, economics, and what these things mean for them as consumers.

Overview

The key concepts in this unit include:
 

  • There is a difference between a need and a want.
  • Because there are limited resources, we have to make choices about the needs and wants we fulfil (the problem of scarcity).
  • Different types of resources can be mobilised to satisfy the needs and wants of present and future generations (factors of production).
  • Consumer choices can be influenced by external forces, including advertising, promotions, and peers.
  • Consumers can use various strategies to make informed choices about what they purchase.
Lessons
Linked Resources & Activities
Linked Worksheets

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