Grades:

Grade 8-10

Subjects:

Social Studies

Overview

What if we had to wear clothes or eat food originating from our country only? Can we survive without contact with other countries, as virtual islands? This lesson brings the concept of global interdependence by exploring the origins of many of the goods that students wear and use everyday. It can be used for high school economics students as an introduction to world trade. It may also be used for history students.

Suggested Time Allowance:

Objectives:

Students are expected to:
-Give examples of ways in which they are connected with other places in the world
-Give examples of ways the United States relies on other countries for goods

Materials:

-student journals
-pens/pencils
-computers with Internet access
-Other reference books
-One copy of a Political World outline map for each student

Lesson Plan

First ask the students to list out all the objects in their possession. This includes clothes, sneakers, sports equipment and lunch box items. Next, ask students to find out, with the help of a partner, where their shirts or blouses were made. If there is no label, have students check the labels on their sweaters, jackets, or other items of clothing. Have each student mark that country on the world map. The students may consult atlases or textbooks for the location of countries.

Next, have students find where their shoes were manufactured. Mark them on the maps. Proceed to the other items like watches, sports equipment, and lunch box items (bananas, out-of-season fruits). Ask students to imagine a week in which all things they use were limited to items produced in their country/state only. (Refer students to encyclopedias to find the goods produced in your country.) What items would be available? What would not be available? (E.g. Cars, fuel, fruits and vegetables grown outside the United States, coffee, tea, chocolate).

Mark the top 10 countries from which we import goods on the world map. Also mark the top 10 countries to which we export goods.

Make a list of the top 10 goods imported into the US. What are the top 10 US exports? Look at the per capita imports and exports statistics in NationMaster.

Can you notice anything common in the countries topping the lists? (Hint: check their size). Try to explain this fact. Now ask the students to take a good look at the map in their hands. Emphasize the interconnection of humans by analyzing the movement of goods. Elaborate this theme into movement of people and ideas (Listing the country of origin of each student in the class). Stress the point that US was made by large-scale movement of people from other parts of the world.

Assessment:

Students will be evaluated based on their written journal entries and participation in class discussions.

Source:

NationMaster