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Three Words for Hard Times is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on inflation, deflation and unemployment, aligned to Common Core standard D2.Eco.11.3-5. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils 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.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Three Words for Hard Times

D2.Eco.11.3-5

NameDate

Sort each one into the right word.

1.Sort each one: Inflation or Deflation or Unemployment?

Sort: Cotton costs more this year than last, Shippers cut freight rates year on year, An upland labourer with no farm to work on

InflationDeflationUnemployment
2.Sort each one: Inflation or Deflation or Unemployment?

Sort: Rents rise across the mill district, The same coin buys more coal than before, A weaver with a loom and no orders

InflationDeflationUnemployment
3.Sort each one: Inflation or Deflation or Unemployment?

Sort: Men waiting at the mill gate for work, Prices fall while debts stay the same, Prices climb month after month

InflationDeflationUnemployment

LessonPrint · D2.Eco.11.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Words for Hard Times

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. An upland labourer with no farm to work on — Unemployment 2. Cotton costs more this year than last — Inflation 3. Shippers cut freight rates year on year — Deflation
  2. 2.1. A weaver with a loom and no orders — Unemployment 2. Rents rise across the mill district — Inflation 3. The same coin buys more coal than before — Deflation
  3. 3.1. Men waiting at the mill gate for work — Unemployment 2. Prices climb month after month — Inflation 3. Prices fall while debts stay the same — Deflation

Questions about Three Words for Hard Times

What does the Three Words for Hard Times worksheet cover?

It practises inflation, deflation and unemployment — 3 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on Common Core D2.Eco.11.3-5: Explain what inflation, deflation and unemployment mean. The instruction to pupils is “Sort each one into the right word”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Three Words for Hard Times practise?

D2.Eco.11.3-5 — D2.Eco.11.3-5, in the Economics domain for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published standard reads: “Explain the meaning of inflation, deflation, and unemployment.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Three Words for Hard Times is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.Eco.11.3-5, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Three Words for Hard Times come with an answer key?

Yes. All 3 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 Three Words for Hard Times can I print?

25 — one per pupil, 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 Three Words for Hard Times free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Three Words for Hard Times, 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.

Is there a lesson plan to teach D2.Eco.11.3-5?

Yes — “Three Words for Hard Times” is a 50-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for D2.Eco.11.3-5, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Three Words for Hard Times is the practice that follows it.

More practice for D2.Eco.11.3-5

Explain what inflation, deflation and unemployment mean.

Teaching this next? Three Words for Hard Times is the 50-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.Eco.11.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.