About the inquiry

This inquiry engages third graders in expanding their understandings of our increasingly interconnected world. The compelling question “Is sharing and trading across cultures always a good thing?” is intellectually respectful of third graders who have personal experience with sharing and trading and typically have been told that sharing and trading are positive ways to interact. This inquiry explores that assumption in ways that allow students to engage with several social studies disciplines as students uncover political, economic, and social connections across cultures and analyze the implications of those connections.

Compelling Question

Is Sharing and Trading Across Cultures Always a Good Thing?

Staging Question

Survey the class to see where personal items were manufactured.

Summative Performance Task

Argument: Is sharing and trading across cultures always a good thing? Construct an argument with evidence that addresses the compelling question.

Extension:

Taking Informed Action

Understand:

Assess:

Act: Choose one of the challenges of globalization and take steps towards reducing its impact locally (e.g., working to clean up fast-food litter).