Positive and Negative Incentives Sort

5th Grade Social StudiesEconomics3 pages

About this worksheet

The city council needs help sorting its ideas in this 3-page 5th grade economics activity. Students place 12 items, such as a free pizza coupon, a parking ticket, a homework pass, and increased insurance costs, under Positive Incentives (rewards) or Negative Incentives (penalties). Two Think About It questions follow. One asks which item was hardest to place, and the other asks students to design one new incentive of each kind for their classroom or home. It targets C3 Framework indicator D2.Eco.2.3-5, and the answer key shows six items in each column.

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Page 1 of 3

Positive and Negative Incentives Sort: Economics - page 1
Positive and Negative Incentives Sort: Economics - page 2
Positive and Negative Incentives Sort: Economics - page 3

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Curriculum objectives covered

D2.Eco.2.3-5

“Identify positive and negative incentives that influence the decisions people make.”

The 12-item sort, plus question 2, where students name the target and the behavior their own incentive is meant to change.

What's inside this worksheet

City Council Ideas

A 12-item table that includes library late fee, extra recess time, public praise, half-price sale, losing phone privileges, and car towing fee.

Positive and Negative Incentives

A two-column chart headed Positive Incentives (Rewards) and Negative Incentives (Penalties). Students write each item in one column.

Think About It

Question 1 asks which item was hardest to categorize. Question 2 asks students to design a new positive and negative incentive and say who the target is and which behavior should change.

How teachers use it

Partner sort

Pairs cut the table into cards and sort them before they write anything down. Six cards should end up on each side, which gives them a quick self-check.

Class debate

Public praise and increased insurance costs start the best arguments. One costs nothing and the other is not a direct fine, so ask what behavior each one targets.

Classroom connection

Read a few student designs from question 2 aloud and vote on a new class reward to try for a week.

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