In this Grade 3 lesson from Social Studies Alive! Our Community and Beyond, students learn what global trade is and how countries exchange goods and services they have for things they want. Using real-world examples like bananas from Ecuador and tractors from the United States, students explore why nations depend on each other and how manufactured products from around the world reach their communities.
Section 1
Countries Share Their Extra Goods
No country can make or grow everything its people need. One country might have a lot of a certain food, like bananas, but not enough of another, like wheat for bread. Another country might have the opposite problem.
To solve this, countries trade with each other. The country with extra bananas can swap them for wheat from the other country. This way, both countries can get the different goods they want and need.
Section 2
Global Trade Helps and Hurts People
Global trade means we can buy many different things from all over the world. A toy made in another country might cost less money than one made here. This gives shoppers more choices and helps them save money.
But this trade can also be hard for some people. When a company moves its factory to another country, workers in the United States can lose their jobs. The new workers in the other country might not be paid very much for their hard work.
Section 3
Countries Exchange Resources and Products
Countries trade many different kinds of goods. Some goods are natural resources, which are things that come from the Earth. For example, some countries grow lots of bananas, while others have a lot of oil underground. They can trade these things for items they need.
Other goods are manufactured, which means they are made by people and machines. Things like toys, clothes, and cars are all manufactured goods. Countries often trade the natural resources they have for manufactured goods they want to buy.
Section 4
Countries Choose Goods for Many Reasons
Countries choose where to buy things for different reasons. Sometimes, a country buys an item because it has a reputation for special quality, like a well-made car from Germany.
Other times, the main reason is cost. It might be cheaper to make clothes or toys in another country. This means the price in our stores is lower.
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Section 1
Countries Share Their Extra Goods
No country can make or grow everything its people need. One country might have a lot of a certain food, like bananas, but not enough of another, like wheat for bread. Another country might have the opposite problem.
To solve this, countries trade with each other. The country with extra bananas can swap them for wheat from the other country. This way, both countries can get the different goods they want and need.
Section 2
Global Trade Helps and Hurts People
Global trade means we can buy many different things from all over the world. A toy made in another country might cost less money than one made here. This gives shoppers more choices and helps them save money.
But this trade can also be hard for some people. When a company moves its factory to another country, workers in the United States can lose their jobs. The new workers in the other country might not be paid very much for their hard work.
Section 3
Countries Exchange Resources and Products
Countries trade many different kinds of goods. Some goods are natural resources, which are things that come from the Earth. For example, some countries grow lots of bananas, while others have a lot of oil underground. They can trade these things for items they need.
Other goods are manufactured, which means they are made by people and machines. Things like toys, clothes, and cars are all manufactured goods. Countries often trade the natural resources they have for manufactured goods they want to buy.
Section 4
Countries Choose Goods for Many Reasons
Countries choose where to buy things for different reasons. Sometimes, a country buys an item because it has a reputation for special quality, like a well-made car from Germany.
Other times, the main reason is cost. It might be cheaper to make clothes or toys in another country. This means the price in our stores is lower.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter