Things You'll Need:
- 1 roll blue painters tape
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Step 1
Create open floor space in your classroom by pushing the chairs one side of the room. If this isn't possible, you can also do this activity out in the hallway.
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Step 2
Using blue painters tape (it comes off easily when you are done), tape off a supply and demand graph. This can be as big or small as you would like, but make sure that it is big enough for several students to stand on the supply or demand line at one time.
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Step 3
Divide your students into groups of 4-5.
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Step 4
Direct the first group to stand on the x axis (quantity side) of the graph and have them link arms.
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Step 5
Read aloud a situation that will change either supply or demand. For example, hot dogs go on sale at Walmart. How will this affect the supply or demand for hot dog buns? The students who have linked their arms should now, as a group, walk to the line that will be affected in this situation. In this example, it would be the demand line. Staying linked, they should then shift the line by taking two or three steps in the appropriate direction.
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Step 6
As a student at random to explain why the line shifted the way it did. As another random student to explain what will happen to the equilibrium price and quantity as a result of the shift.
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Step 7
Allow the rest of the class to correct the group if they moved to the wrong line or shifted in the wrong direction. Then direct another group to stand on the x axis and repeat with a new situation.
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Step 8
Another option is to make several graphs in a larger area, such as the gym, and have the groups race to the correct line. The first group to stand on the correct line and shift it the correct direction wins the round.
