Year 12 students recently experienced the dynamics of supply and demand in a hands-on and engaging way during their Economics class with teacher Marija Milić. Instead of just learning from textbooks, the classroom was transformed into a lively trading floor where students could apply economic theory in practice.
For the simulation, suppliers were given colorful sweets – red, blue, orange, green, and purple – while consumers received “money” to spend. Acting as sellers and buyers, students faced the challenges of real market behavior. Sellers had to set prices, adjust to competition, and try to maximize profits, while buyers had to make choices within their budgets, weighing scarcity, preferences, and opportunity costs.
As trading began, the energy in the classroom quickly rose. Prices fluctuated, negotiations heated up, and the market shifted between moments of excess demand and excess supply. The exercise showed students how timing, strategy, and incentives drive decision-making in real markets.
At the end of the activity, the most profitable suppliers were declared winners, while buyers were rewarded for getting the best deals. Beyond the fun, students walked away with a deeper understanding of how markets function and why economic forces matter in everyday life.
