The Chains of Interdependence

Overview
This lesson is designed to make students aware of interdependence in any economy. It may be used as an introduction, review or illustration of the concept learned, and is easily adapted to Grade 5 and Grade 6. New-home construction is the basis for this lesson, but any industry — especially a local one to your community — may be used. The point is to have students think of all the additional industries necessary for the one to succeed, and to illustrate that concept visually for better comprehension.

Outcome
Students will understand that most production of goods requires others goods, and that this requirement leads to specialization and interdependence.

Standards Addressed

Grade 5
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark A
02. Explain that individuals in all economies must answer the fundamental economic questions of what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce.

Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark B
03. Explain how education, specialization, capital goods and the division of labor affect productive capacity.

Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark C
04. Explain how regions in North America become interdependent when they specialize in what they produce best and then trade with other regions inside and outside North America to increase the amount and variety of goods and services available.

05. Explain the general relationship between supply, demand and price in a competitive market.

06. Explain why competition among producers/sellers results in lower costs and prices, higher product quality and better customer service.

Grade 6
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark A
01. Explain how the availability of productive resources and entrepreneurship affects the production of goods and services in different world regions.

Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark B
03. Explain why trade occurs when individuals, regions and countries specialize in what they can produce at the lowest opportunity cost and how this causes both production and consumption to increase.

04. Identify goods and services that are imported and exported and explain how this trade makes countries interdependent.

Materials

• Paper clips — large, small and possibly colored ones

• Sticky labels

Procedure

1. It is suggested that this lesson be accomplished by starting with the whole class and then breaking into teams as specialization occurs.

2. Teach and/or review the concept of interdependence.

3. Decide on the industry to be examined.

4. Have students brainstorm all the industries necessary to produce the good offered by that industry. If necessary, allow time for research.

5. Make a foundation chain of paper clips to represent the chosen industry. About 100 large paper clips should be appropriate.

6. Hang that chain in a place that is accessible to the students. For example, the chain may be hung on the blackboard using magnetic clips or pinned to a bulletin board. Label the foundation chain with the name of the industry.

7. Pass out additional paper clips. If desired, make colored paper clips available to the class or teams. Colors can represent various countries, continents or geographical regions. That should be decided by the students and/or teacher as necessary.

8. Have students construct and clearly label new chains of about 10 clips each of every industry that they see as necessary for the foundation industry to flourish. For example, if the foundation industry is new-home construction, there will be chains made and labeled for industries such as lumber, brick, concrete, plumbing, electricity, phone/cable, heating, architecture, landscaping, decorating, siding, surveying, insulation … the list is almost endless. Colored clips can be incorporated here to represent geographical regions if the emphasis is important to the teacher. For example, green clips may be used to represent the lumber industry in the Northwest.

9. Attach the supporting industry chains to the foundation industry chain and discuss the results.

10. Have students brainstorm, construct and clearly label a second set of chains for any supporting industries of the already attached support industries. For example, the lumber industry will need tool makers, forest specialists, transportation/truck drivers and so on.

11. A third layer of chains can be constructed, labeled and attached as deemed necessary by the teacher and as time allows. For example, there could be a chain representing the tire industry attached to the chain representing the trucking industry attached to the chain representing the lumber industry attached to the original foundation chain of house building. All chains should be clearly labeled.

12. When the teacher decides to go no further, pick one lower chain and think up a problem or shortage with that chain. Pull on it to illustrate how the entire structure of chains will move. Discuss the implications and have the students develop clearly stated opinions on the concept of interdependence.

Evaluation
Whether or not comprehension was achieved can be evaluated by observation of the discussion as students build and assemble their chains of interdependence. An essay can also be assigned, asking students to evaluate the effect of one industry’s health on another.

Rubric