Why is Trading Important?

Subject: Social Studies

Lesson Length: 1 - 2 hours

Topic: Economics: Exchange and Markets

Grade Level: 3, 4, 5

Standards / Framework:

Brief Description: Students will be able to explain why trading is important for individuals.

Know Before You Start: Students should have a basic understanding of what goods and services are.

Hook:

Activity:

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.

Closure:

Have students share their comics with the class or in small groups and explain why they chose their respective import or export.

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.
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.

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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