Imports and Exports

Overview
Students use Internet resources to research the economic connections that the United States has with other countries.

Outcome
Students will develop an understanding of where the items that they use in their daily lives come from.

Standards Addressed

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.

Grade 8
Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark A
01. Explain how the uneven distribution of productive resources influenced historic events such as the Civil War.

Social Studies — Economics, Benchmark B
02. Discuss how mercantilism and the establishment of colonies led to increased global trading during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Materials

• Imports and Exports student handout

• Computer or reference materials

Procedure

1. Divide students into pairs.

2. Give each group the name of a country with which the United States has trade agreements.

3. Students then use the Internet to research the specific country and find the products that the country exports, and also which products they import from the United States.
   
   Students can use the Economics Academy 101 hotlist at www.pbs4549.org/economics/hotlist.htm and scroll to “Colonies” or “Imports/Exports” as a resource.

4. From the information, create a chart showing the imports and exports.

5. It is possible that there is an imbalance between the goods exported and imported (for example, China). The students will write a paragraph to give an explanation for the imbalance. Students should cite their sources.

Evaluation
Checklist for evaluating answers.