When Things Are Scarce is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on how scarcity affects production and price, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.3.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.A drought means farmers grow less wheat. What happens to bread prices?
A.They fall
B.Bread becomes free
C.They rise
2.What is scarcity?
A.Having more than anyone needs
B.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
C.A kind of tax
3.Why are diamonds expensive while tap water is cheap in most places?
A.Diamonds are easy to dig up
B.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
C.Water is harder to find than diamonds
4.A shortage of computer chips slows car factories. What happens?
A.More cars are made than ever
B.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
C.Cars become free
5.A storm closes the roads into a town for a week. What becomes scarce in its stores?
A.Sunshine
B.Fresh food brought in by truck
C.The town's name
6.Lots of pumpkins grow this year. What probably happens to pumpkin prices?
A.Pumpkins disappear
B.They go down
C.They go up
7.When water is scarce in summer, what might a city ask people to do?
A.Fill extra swimming pools
B.Leave the hoses running
C.Water their lawns less often
8.A factory runs short of workers. What happens to how much it can make?
A.It makes fewer goods
B.It makes more goods
C.It makes exactly the same
LessonPrint · D2.Eco.3.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — When Things Are Scarce
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.They rise
2.Not having enough of something for everyone who wants it
3.Diamonds are scarce, while tap water is plentiful
4.Fewer new cars are made, and their prices go up
5.Fresh food brought in by truck
6.They go down
7.Water their lawns less often
8.It makes fewer goods
Questions about When Things Are Scarce
What does the When Things Are Scarce worksheet cover?
It practices how scarcity affects production and price — 8 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.Eco.3.3-5: Name the people, tools and natural materials it takes to make something. The instruction to students is “Circle the best answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does When Things Are Scarce practice?
D2.Eco.3.3-5, under Economics for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Identify examples of the variety of resources (human capital, physical capital, and natural resources) that are used to produce goods and services.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
When Things Are Scarce is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.Eco.3.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does When Things Are Scarce come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of When Things Are Scarce can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is When Things Are Scarce free to print and photocopy?
Yes. When Things Are Scarce, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for D2.Eco.3.3-5
Name the people, tools and natural materials it takes to make something.