---
title: Benefits of Trade Policies
description: Students will explore and demonstrate an understanding of the major benefits of countries trading with each other.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/benefits_of_trade_policies-001.png
---

**Subject: Social Studies**

**Lesson Length: 1 - 2 hours**

**Topic: Specialization and Trade**

**Grade Level: 6, 7, 8**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [C3: D2.Eco.15.6-8](https://www.socialstudies.org/sites/default/files/c3/c3-framework-for-social-studies-rev0617.pdf)

**Brief Description:**  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the major benefits of countries trading with each other.

**Know Before You Start:** Students should be familiar with basic economic concepts such as **supply and demand**, **trade**, **goods**, and **services**.

**Hook:**

- Ask students: 
    - "Have you ever wondered where the clothes you wear, the toys you play with, or the electronics you use every day come from? How do they get to you?”
    - "What do you think would happen if your country suddenly stopped trading with all other countries? How would your life change?”
    - "Can you think of any products or items that are unique to specific countries or regions? Why do you think they are not available everywhere?”

**Activity:**

- Have students explore the benefits of specialization and trade by watching a video from Crash Course Economics. 
- Have students brainstorm a list of five essential items they consider necessary for a trip.
- In pairs, have students collaboratively conduct research to explore the origins and manufacturing processes of their selected items. They should try to answer questions such as: 
    - Where is the product made?
    - What materials are used in its production?
    - Are there any specific countries known for manufacturing this item?
    - Are there any trade agreements or trade policies related to this product?
- Have students conduct research on a country of their choice, identifying its main exports, imports, and the mutual benefits derived from international trade by answering the following questions:  
    - What are the main products or resources this country exports?
    - What products or resources does this country import from other countries?
    - How does this trade benefit the chosen country and the countries it trades with?
- After researching, have each group present their findings to the class. Encourage discussion on how international trade benefits countries economically and culturally.
- Have students create a comic that displays the main export of the country they chose and how the import benefits the United States.

**Closure:**

- Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups.
- Emphasize that international trade fosters economic growth, cultural exchange, and access to a wider variety of goods and services, but trade policies can influence who benefits and at what cost.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Allow students to use the closed-caption feature while watching the video. 
- Preteach vocabulary or provide vocabulary definitions, e.g., **supply and demand**, **goods**, **services**, and the concept of **trade**.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: Comic.
- [Video: Specialization and Trade](https://youtu.be/NI9TLDIPVcs?si=-0w_VNtui1SieB8v): Crash Course Economics #2
- [World Trade Organization](https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm)
- [A World Map](https://www.mapsofworld.com/) (or access to a world map)
- [GALE](https://www.gale.com/open-access) (Open Access through Local Library)

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/2000163438120759296/thumbnail.png) Mall ](https://content.pixton.com/mall)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1665077182017544192/thumbnail.png) Shopping ](https://content.pixton.com/shopping)

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