This inquiry leads students through an investigation of economic systems by focusing on the context of trade among world communities. Trading is one of the oldest forms of economic interaction among humans, yet it is also among the most complex. In examining the reasons for international trade and the exports of world communities, students should be able to develop an argument supported by evidence to answer the compelling question “Why do countries need each other?”
Why Do Countries Need Each Other?
Watch an interactive video and discuss the construct of what it means to trade.
What do countries export?
Formative TasksChoose three products and list the countries that produce and export them.
SourcesSource A: Image bank: Highest valued export by country <br /> Source B: Image bank: World political maps
Why do countries import goods?
Formative TasksList three reasons why countries import goods.
SourcesSource A: “On Valentine's Day, Many of the Flowers Come from Colombia” <br /> Source B: “It’s a Hard Fight to End Child Labor Abuse on West Africa’s Cocoa Farms”
What factors influence trade?
Formative TasksMake a claim supported with evidence about a factor that has influenced trade in the 21st century.
SourcesSource A: “Most People in India Drink Tea, but Locally Grown Coffee Is Catching On”<br /> Source B: “Who Will Sell the Most Avocados? Colombia Hopes It Will”
Argument: Why do countries need each other? Construct an argument supported with evidence that addresses the question of how world communities trade with one another in order to meet their needs and wants.
Extension:
Understand: Accomplished through Performance Tasks 1 and 2
Assess: Accomplished through Performance Task 3
Act: Select one or more of the goods mentioned in the featured sources as items that the US imports from other countries and invite local restaurant and/or grocery store managers to class to talk about how and why they are involved in that form of trade.
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