Economics Role Play: Consumers and Producers {NCSS Standard 7}

In this role play, there are eleven businesses under four categories (food, clothing, recreation and miscellaneous). Depending on class size, one student should be responsible for each business. Students that are not owners of businesses (producers) will be the consumers. One student will be in charge of headquarters. Business owners (producers) try to attract the most customers. Customers (consumers) try to complete shopping tasks and gather the most "task completed cards".

This role play also includes a vocabulary worksheet and a teacher discussion guide.

The 11 Businesses:

• Downtown Diner
• Bake Me Happy Bakery
• The Farmer’s Market
• Sew What
• Cozy Clothing
• Beautiful Boutique
• Spike’s Bikes
• Outdoor Store
• The General Store
• Best Pets

Roles:

Headquarters

The student in charge of headquarters hands out consumer cards. Consumers come to headquarters for a consumer card, then they choose a business from the choices on the card, get a task completed card, and then go back to headquarters for a new consumer card.

Business Owners (Producers)

The object of the business owners is to get as many consumer cards as possible. That means customers like your store and you have a lot of business! Business owners should display their business name in the front of their desks. They can use the signs provided in this packet, or make their own (or use both). Business owners should have a stack of task completed cards. During round one of play, business owners will check to make sure that their business is on the consumer card, keep the consumer card, and then hand the consumer a task completed card. After round one, check to see which business has the most consumer cards (use this information in the discussion after the role play). During round two of play, business owners will be handed a pile of condition cards. When a consumer comes to their business to gain a task completed card, the business owner will ask or act out the condition on the condition card. This can either delay or prevent the consumer from gaining the task completed card. If the consumer cannot complete the task, they need to choose another business off the list, or return to headquarters for another consumer card.

Customers (Consumers)

The object of the consumers is to get as many task completed cards as possible. Customers need to check in to headquarters to get a consumer card. During round one, consumers choose a business from the list on the consumer card. When they go to their chosen business, they hand their consumer card to the business owners, who will keep the card and give a task completed card to the consumer. During round two, consumers may not be able to complete their task. Business owners have condition cards they will read to see if the customer can meet the expectation. It may delay the exchange, or prevent the consumer from receiving a task completed card. If they go to every business listed on their card and are unable to complete their task, they keep their consumer card and go back to headquarters for another consumer card.

Students will love interacting with each other! This activity is fun, fast-paced and social! Students will love learning about economics!