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Global Trade

Why do countries import and export products? Students will learn about global trade and find out where some familiar products come from.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Ask students if they've ever noticed that some of their toys, clothes, household items, or other products were made in other countries. Have a discussion about why countries import and export items. You could explain that different countries have different strengths and resources. So a country with a warmer climate that grows cocoa beans might be better at making chocolate, while countries with cooler climates might be more adept at producing warm clothing. Explain that this global trade helps promote innovation, competition, and lower prices, among other benefits. 

  • Step 2

    Have students investigate where certain products come from and then document their findings in a colorful way. They could list the products and their source, then add illustrations as well as small models of the product made out of Model Magic that can be glued onto the lists.

  • Step 3

    Display the lists as a reminder that we are a global community and we rely on each other in many ways.

Standards

SS: Production, Distribution, and Consumption: Consider consequences of individual decisions on groups, communities, the nation, and beyond. 

SS: Global Connections: Become aware of how things that happen in one part of the world impact other parts of the world and the global connections within basic issues and concerns. 

Adaptations

Have students read a book with an economic theme such as "Those Shoes" by Maribeth Boelts and Noah Z. Jones (which is a story about wants vs needs) or "Sanji and the Baker" by Tzannes Robin (which touches on the economic concept of an externality: when something produced has either a benefit or cost that is not included in the price). Have students discuss the economic concepts  in each book. 

Have students choose an object that's very meaningful to them, perhaps a favorite toy, pair of shoes, or an electronic device. Have them learn more about the country it comes from. Where is it located? What language is spoken there? What are some of the foods it's known for? What sports do the inhabitants enjoy?