At a Glance:
| Grades: | 3, 4, 5 |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Social Studies |
| Topic: | Economics: Exchange and Markets |
| Lesson Length: | 1 - 2 hours |
Standards / Framework:
What will students learn in this activity?
Students will be able to explain why trading is important for individuals.
What should students know before this activity?
Students should have a basic understanding of what goods and services are.
How can teachers introduce this lesson?
- Ask students:
- Have you ever made a trade with anyone? What did you trade or why did you trade?
- What is trade?
- How does trade impact you and your family?
- How does trade impact the United States?
- What does importing and exporting mean?
What will students do?
- Preteach the vocabulary terms imports and exports.
- Facilitate a shared reading experience using the article entitled, “What are the Top 10 US Imports?” For additional information about imports and exports, the class can also explore the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis website.
- Have students discuss the importance of trading with other countries and how trade impacts our everyday lives.
- Have students create a comic that illustrates an import or an export.
How can teachers wrap up the lesson?
- Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups and explain why they chose their respective import or export.
How can teachers differentiate this activity?
- 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.
- Provide students with a graphic organizer, such as Draw/Plan Then Write, to map out their comic before creating.
- Provide students with a list of imports and exports from which to choose.
Related Resources:
- Comic to print or display: Comic.
- Draw/Plan Then Write
- Video: Why do Countries Trade? by Mindlever Education Centre
- Books:
- The Great Labne Trade by Eman Selah
- The Suez Canal and Other Global Trade Routes by Jennifer Maharajh
- Trade in Our Global Community by Rachel Eagen
- Article: What are the Top 10 U.S. Imports by Sage Knox
- Website: U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services- Bureau of Economic Analysis of U.S. Department of Commerce
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