Two Job Offers: Pay, Costs and Opportunity Cost

SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Economics
SP-ECON-007 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 2
Two Job Offers: Pay, Costs and Opportunity
Cost
Social Studies · Economics · Grades 9-12 · 50 minutes
Time needed
50 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student). Calculators are optional.
Technology
None. Calculators are optional.
Student
independence
High. Students work alone, then compare with a partner.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet, Calculators (optional)
Goal for today: Students will calculate and compare the total value of two job offers and explain opportunity cost in a
personal decision.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ On the board, write: Opportunity cost = the next best choice you give up when you decide.
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk. All jobs and numbers are made up. Taxes are ignored on purpose.
Say this to start
Good morning! Imagine you have two job offers. One pays by the hour and one pays a yearly salary. The better pay is
not always the better choice once you count the costs. Today you will do the math and think about trade-offs.
Everything you need is on the worksheet. Calculators are fine.
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance. Hand out the worksheet. Read the board
definition of opportunity cost aloud.
Settle in and listen.
5–12
Tell students to read the passage and underline every
number.
Read the two offers and underline
numbers.
12–30
Tell students to complete the comparison table row by row.
Walk the room and ask them to show the math for annual
pay.
Fill in the comparison table.
30–40
Tell students to answer questions 1–2 (math) and
questions 3–4 (multiple choice).
Do the math and answer the multiple
choice.
40–47
Tell students to answer questions 5 and 6.
Finish the true/false and the short answer.
47–50
Read the table values and answers 1–5 from the key.
Collect worksheets and stack them for the teacher.
Check answers and hand in the worksheet.

SubstitutePlans.com
Social Studies · Economics
SP-ECON-007 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 3
If things go wrong
• If students ask about taxes, tell them the problem ignores taxes on purpose so the math stays simple.
• If students ask how to find annual pay, tell them to multiply hourly pay by 40 hours and by 52 weeks.
• If students ask what to write for the opinion question, say any choice is fine if the reasons are clear.
• If students finish early, use the early finisher list.
Early finishers
• Make up a third job offer and compare it to the better of the first two.
• List three non-money things a person should think about before taking a job.
Support and challenge
• Support: Let students use a calculator and work through the table with a partner.
• Challenge: Ask students what hourly pay Offer A would need for its total value to match Offer B.
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: