TITLE:         The World on a String

LEVEL:         Grades 4-8

PREPARED BY:   Shirley Lomax
               Hayesville School
               Salem, Oregon
               (503) 581-9930

DESCRIPTION:   This is a total group lesson using the themes of
               geography to illustrate the interdependence of
               countries.  Group discussion and an activity are
               used to teach the objective.

RELATED
  SUBJECTS:    Social Studies
               Geography (Movement-Human/Environment Interaction)

LEARNING
  OBJECTIVES:  The student will be able to define the terms,
               import and export.

               The student will be able to consider the problems
               that environmental issues have on the exporting of
               goods and products from one country to another.

RESOURCES:     String, atlases, almanacs

PROCEDURE:     Anticipatory set - Ask the students to check the
               labels on their shirts/blouses to see where they
               are from.  Discuss the definitions of exporting
               and importing.

               Explanation of the lesson - This lesson is day 3
               of a 3 day lesson.  This an overview of the
               previous days' activities.
                  DAY 1  Assign the students a country.  Students
                         research and select 5 goods produced
                         there.
                  DAY 2  Trade Market Day - Each student must
                         find 2 countries to import from and 2
                         countries to export to.  At day's end
                         students must register their trade
                         partners and goods with the teacher.
                  DAY 3  World web is created.

               Day 3 lesson - Give students paper strip naming an
               exported product and country it goes to, as they
               form a circle in the middle of the room.  Give a
               student a ball of yarn.  While holding onto one
               end of the string, the student tosses the ball to
               a trading partner.  This continues until all
               students are holding a spot on the string.

PROCEDURE:     Discussion - Ask students to think of some type of
               environmental/physical problem that would affect
               the exporting or importing of goods from one place
               to another.  Use one of their examples and ask one
               student to step 2 steps back while still holding
               on to the string.  (This will represent a break in
               trade relations.)  Ask students to raise hands if
               they can feel the tension in the string.  Ask them
               what the tension represents.  Guide discussions to
               reinforce the interdependence of trading
               countries.

EVALUATION:    Ask students what import and export means.  Share
               with partners.  Ask them to think of an example of
               a country that imports and exports and what goods
               are used.  Tell them to think of a reason why
               trade would break down.  Share with partners. 
               While students are sharing, walk around and listen
               to the discussions going on to evaluate the
               class's understanding.


***NOTE:  PLACE THE FOLLOWING ON A SEPARATE PAGE FOR USE IN THE
          ACTIVITY

                      The World On a String


COUNTRY FROM:            EXPORT              COUNTRY TO:

1.   USA                 Corn                England
2.   England             Sugar beets         Malaysia
3.   Malaysia            Rubber              France
4.   France              Wine                South Africa
5.   South Africa        Diamonds            Canada
6.   Canada              Flax                Brazil
7.   Brazil              Coffee              West Germany
8.   West Germany        Coal                Italy
9.   Italy               Shoes-Leathers      Australia
10.  Australia           Bauxite             China
11.  China               Pork bellies        Mexico
12.  Mexico              Pineapples          Saudi Arabia
13.  Saudi Arabia        Petroleum           Japan
14.  Japan               Televisions         Denmark
15.  Denmark             Furniture           Ireland
16.  Ireland             Lace                Spain
17.  Spain               Olive oil           Panama
18.  Panama              Hats                Poland
19.  Poland              Oats                India
20.  India               Rope                New Zealand
21.  New Zealand         Lamb                Turkey
22.  Turkey              Cigars              Afghanistan
23.  Afghanistan         Clothing            Mongolia
24.  Mongolia            Copper              Korea
25.  Korea               Sport shoes         Haiti
26.  Haiti               Jewelry             Portugal
27.  Portugal            Sardines            Czechoslovakia
28.  Czechoslovakia      Bauxite             Burma
29.  Burma               Peanuts             Egypt
30.  Egypt               Pottery             USA