High School Lesson Plans: Trade

These resources are appropriate for grade levels 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th.

Lesson Plans:

Trading Up? Exploring International Perspectives on Free Trade
In this lesson, students explore the benefits and drawbacks of free trade from the perspective of the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile and Mexico.

For homework, they each write a letter to the editor expressing their personal viewpoint on the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Foreign Exchange: Investigating the Economy of Foreign Nations
In this lesson, students share ideas about the values of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. They then research the economy of a foreign country and prepare an appropriate budget for one month study abroad. They synthesize their learning by reflecting on what life would be like if they were to live on $100 a week in a foreign country.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Studying Locally, Teaching Globally: Role Playing to Understand Outsourcing
In this lesson, students work in small groups to create outlines and mind-maps that demonstrate their understand of the effects of outsourcing on economic relationships and the U.S. economy.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Culture and the Corporation: Exploring How Companies Adapt to Foreign Marketplaces
In this lesson, students will examine how Disney learned from past experience to adapt its business plan for a new cultural environment. They then research the culture of a foreign country and develop their own plan for introducing a new company there.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Money Makes the World Go 'Round: Examining Currency and Its Impact on the Global Economy
In this two-day lesson plan, students examine what a basic unit of currency means and how it affects world finances. On the first day, students consider the value of the American dollar in light of its devaluation on the global market and gain a deeper understanding of the terms used to describe this economic situation. On the second day, students consider events that may shape the global economy and create board games utilizing their knowledge of foreign currencies and world economics.

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Coffee Makes the World Go Round: Exploring the Global Coffee Trade

In this lesson, students examine the concept of "fair trade coffee," then research facts about coffee and the coffee industry and create original exhibits to be included in a "Global Coffee Awareness Fair."

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Pump It Up: Examining the Use and Importance of Gasoline and Other Energy Sources Around the World
In this lesson, students explore the rising cost of gasoline and how it impacts people around the world differently. They learn about gasoline usage and alternate forms of energy used in several countries, and then consider the relationship between people in their country and oil.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Fighting for Fair Farming: Examining How Domestic Subsidies Impact Foreign Markets
In this lesson, students will consider various economic terms, examine the impact of subsidies on farmers and other industries, and illustrate how subsidies affect both domestic and foreign markets.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Deep Impact: Exploring the Environmental Effects of Products on the Planet
In this lesson, students investigate the environmental impact of new products and present their findings at a summit meeting to explore ways to reduce the planetary costs of consumerism. They then write personal essays reflecting on their responsibilities in curbing environmental impacts.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
A Whale of a Difference: Exploring Different Perspectives on Commercial Whaling in Japan
In this lesson, students research various perspectives on Japan's commercial whaling industry and formulate position papers representing these views.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
Ports in the Storm: Discussing Issues Associated With the Operation of American Ports
In this lesson, students share opinions about national security. They then debate the main issues raised by the White House's decision to allow a Dubai-owned company to operate American ports, and write an opinion paper that addresses their thoughts before and after the debate.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit New York Times.
International Trade in a Global Village
As patterns and networks of economic interdependence change (e.g., increased trade networks), conditions are favorable for the spread of diseases such as AIDS. Students will research the spread of AIDS and report on how this problem has been affected by changes in global transportation and trade.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
Marketplace: Oil Is a Slippery Business
OPEC is generally seen as the primary institution that controls oil prices. Is that what OPEC really does? Use this lesson to get an overview of the history and function of this institution.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
You've Got Oil … or Maybe You Don't
In this lesson students will be called upon to role-play in an international oil summit.

This lesson will provide students with an opportunity to learn about the production, distribution and consumption of oil, particularly in Asia.

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
New World Influences on Asia
This lesson focuses on the impact of new goods, ideas, and technology on a region. Most students know that many Asian inventions, such as the compass, saddle and gunpowder, have changed the course of world history. This lesson encourages students to learn about the impact of New World crops and Western technology on Asia, specifically China and Japan. Students will collaborate to research the history and implications of trade and write about and present their findings.

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-4 classes

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
Piracy: A Continuing Problem
This lesson asks students to compare and contrast piracy in its "golden age" with modern piracy. They will find out where piracy is practiced today and write reports pretending they are on an international anti-piracy commission, describing the similarities and differences between modern and historical piracy and proposing some solutions to modern piracy problems.

Time needed for lesson plan: 3-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
U.S. Farmers and the Cuban Embargo
This lesson explores trade barriers in general and why some U.S. farmers want one specific trade barrier, the Cuban embargo, completely eliminated.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
Understanding the Colonial Economy: Mexico / NAFTA
Often teachers and students are able to internalize historical and economic concepts through a more recent event that has occurred within their time frame. This lesson is an extension for the lesson, "Understanding the Colonial Economy." It examines the role and effect of NAFTA in the Mexican and US economies.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit E-CONnections.
International Trade Creates More and Better Jobs
This lesson explores the relationship between productivity and international trade. Specifically, this lessons shows why there should be fewer trade restrictions rather than more.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
Exchange Rates and Exchange: How Money Affects Trade
Students learn how currency values are set by supply and demand, and how changes in the value of currency affect international trade. Students then find the value of the Brazilian Real in 2000 and 2002, determine whether the currency has appreciated or depreciated, and predict the effects on imports and exports.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
The Big Mac Index
While most people see the Big Mac as "twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettuce cheesepicklesonionsonasesameseedbun," economists also see the sandwich as a consumer good that is sold at over 25,000 McDonald's restaurants in 116 countries around the world. Because of its popularity, the Big Mac allows economists to make (admittedly unscientific) comparisons of exchange rates and relative prices in countries around the globe. This EconomicsMinute looks at how the "Big Mac Index" helps explain variation in exchange rates and prices.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
US and EU Go Bananas Over Trade

Your task is to become more informed about the 'Banana War,' to develop an understanding of the issues at stake, and to compose an e-mail letter to the World Trade Organization outlining what you think should be done about the trade dispute.

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Wideangle.
Is Globalization a Dirty Word?
Is globalization a dirty word? Well not according to a recent study conducted by the World Bank. The report, entitled Globalization, Growth, and Poverty: Building an Inclusive World Economy, makes the case for globalization as a method for easing poverty in the world's poor countries. What do you think? In this lesson you will access several types of information about the World Bank report, including a video file, a PowerPoint slide show, and a press release. Your objective is to determine the benefits of globalization and also to consider the costs of globalization.

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit EconEdLink.
Why Nations Trade
This lesson teaches students some key features about international trade and introduces them to underlying trade concepts. The following questions are at the heart of the unit: What are key characteristics of international trade? What are the differences between exports and imports? What are the theories underlying the decisions made in international trade? What types of actions affect the flow of international trade, and who makes them? How does international trade affect a nation's economy? What role do governments play in making decisions about international trade?

Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Globalization101.
Geotourism: Honduras as a Working Model
Geotourism has been described in a nutshell as "traveling without trampling," but the term really means more than that. Coined by Jonathan Tourtellot, geotourism editor of National Geographic Traveler magazine, geotourism is "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place—its environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture, and the well-being of its residents." In this lesson, students will learn about a partnership between the government of Honduras and the National Geographic Society to highlight the concept of geotourism and its benefits. Students will study the opportunities for geotourism available in Honduras, and then extend their understanding of those concepts by planning geotourist expeditions to other parts of the globe.

Time needed for lesson plan: 3-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit National Geographic.
The U.S. Trade Deficit

This lesson plan builds on knowledge and skills developed on the basics of why nations trade. The Introductory Discussion and Quizzes are intended to raise student awareness of the lesson subject and to provide a basic background in the concepts used in the activity. The Activity applies knowledge gained on the basic equations of the trade balance through a review of current trade issues.

Time needed for lesson plan: 3-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Globalization101.
From Arms Race to Arms Sales
Illustrate an important way in which the Cold War influenced international politics by having students create a sequence chain that traces how the buildup of arms in the former Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic eventually led to illegal arms sales and the arming of rebels in war-torn African countries like Sierra Leone.

Time needed for lesson plan: 3-4 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
Track the Path of Coffee From Farm to Store Shelf
Invite students to share ideas and build on the concept that the world is deeply connected, but not always in the most obvious ways.

Time needed for lesson plan: 1-2 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Frontline.
Something's Fishy in Scotland
Learn about the struggles of Scottish fishing families to maintain their way of living under the new policies of the European Union.

Time needed for lesson plan: 4-8 hours

To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit Wideangle.

Units:

The Developed Countries and the Promise of Globalization
This Unit is broken down into three broad topics that each include 5-6 subtopics (that could be taught as individual lessons). Student readings, student assignments, and teacher resources are included. The first two units cover the economic structure and advantages held by developed nations as technology enabled a globalized economy. The last unit concentrates on problems that arise from globalization. The three units combine to form a comprehensive economic investigation of globalization.

Topic 1: The Developed Countries: The Anatomy of Economic Development

Unit 1 deals with the developed countries, which are often referred to as the advanced economies. It provides students with a basic understanding of developed countries, their common characteristics, and the economic, political, and social factors that have contributed to their successful economic development. In doing so, Unit 1 examines in some detail how developed countries nurture their factors of production (natural, human, and capital resources), as well as their technology and entrepreneurship. These topics are dealt with in five Student Readings and nine transparencies. A number of social studies skills are also woven into Unit 1. These skills appear in the seven Student Activities, which are linked to the Student Readings. Specific skills include mapping, organizing information into tables, reading for information (using the CAPT model), drawing conclusion from original research data, and writing (news articles and persuasive writing). Original student research, including Internet use, is emphasized in many of the Student Activities.

Topic 2: Connectivity and Globalization: The Benefits of Being "Plugged In"

Unit 2 focuses on the developed, or advanced countries as participants in the global economy. It provides students with insights into the globalization process, both historically and in the present. The unit also features a number of factors that contribute to globalization and the prosperity that this process can generate—especially for the developed world. The developed countries benefit directly from their advanced technologies, immense wealth (and thus the capacity to benefit from international trade, foreign direct investment, and financial dealing in global capital markets), and economic and political freedoms. The unit concludes with one downside of globalization, however—the danger of financial contagion in a global economy that is so highly integrated and interdependent. Materials in the Resource Guide include six Student Readings, eight Student Activities, and thirteen transparencies. Key social studies skills include analyzing and expressing viewpoints, organizing information (tables and flow chart), conducting original research (for case studies and a competitiveness report), reading for information (CAPT model).

Topic 3: Global Challenges: Fulfilling the Promise of Globalization (Description unavailable)

Time needed for lesson plan: Varies

To link to the actual unit plan, please visit The Developed Countries: The Anatomy of Economic Development.