Benefit or Cost Sorting Activity

4th Grade Social StudiesEconomics3 pages

About this worksheet

The fourth grade is deciding whether to get a hamster as a class pet, and this 3-page economics sheet turns that choice into a sort. Students place 16 outcomes, such as "Fun to watch," "Vet bills," and "Takes up space," under Benefits (Good Things) or Costs (What We Give Up). Step 2 asks which item was trickiest to place and has students add one new benefit and one new cost. The sheet meets C3 Framework D2.Eco.1.3-5. In the answer key, "Cute distraction" can go in either column.

Remix for free

Page 1 of 3

Benefit or Cost Sorting Activity: Economics - page 1
Benefit or Cost Sorting Activity: Economics - page 2
Benefit or Cost Sorting Activity: Economics - page 3

When this preview is focused, use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.

Curriculum objectives covered

D2.Eco.1.3-5

“Compare the benefits and costs of individual choices.”

Step 1 lines up every gain from a class hamster against every cost, and Step 2 asks students to judge the items that could go either way.

What's inside this worksheet

Sort the Outcomes

A 16-item table, from "Learn responsibility" and "Class mascot" to "Weekend feeding" and "Costs $50," goes into a dashed two-column sorting table.

Think it Through

Question 1 asks for the trickiest item, with "distraction" as the printed example. Question 2 asks for a new benefit and a new cost of a class pet.

Answer Key

The full sort, notes on why "Cute distraction" and "Takes time away" are both open to debate, and sample additions such as "might bite someone."

How teachers use it

Hold a class vote

When the sort is done, have the class vote on the hamster. Students must name one benefit and one cost from their table to cast a vote.

Pair discussion

Put "Cute distraction" and "Takes time away" on the board and give pairs two minutes to pick a side before they write question 1.

Cut and glue

Print the outcome table on colored paper so students can cut the 16 squares and glue them into the columns.

More 4th Grade Social Studies worksheets

State HistoryUS RegionsGovernment and Civics

Get started today

Create your own lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities in minutes using our AI-powered tools.

Try Chalkie for free