Economics Academy 101

Triangular Trade

Overview
Students utilize a familiar tune or poem to learn the role each colony had in the triangular trade.

Outcome
Students will become knowledgeable about the resources and goods that U.S. colonies had to trade and the items they needed from other colonies or countries.

Standards Addressed

Grade 8
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.

Social Studies — History, Benchmark D
02. Describe the political, religious and economic aspects of North American colonization including: Reasons for colonization, including religion, desire for land and economic opportunity.

Materials

Sample Song student handout (Download the PDF file.)

Procedure

Students need to discuss triangular trade (maybe the route with Africa and the West Indies or the one with Britain and the West Indies).
Students may work individually or in groups.
Each student or group chooses to create a song or a poem. It needs to have at least 12 lines (this can vary depending on the age and/or ability of students). View an example online or download a printable version (PDF).

Evaluation
Use the rubric provided and, if desired, give extra points to those students who perform their creation.

Category	10 - Above Standard	9 - Meets Standard	8 - Approaching Standard	7 - Below Standard	6 - Unacceptable
Content — Accuracy (score x 2)	At least eight accurate facts are included in the composition.	Seven accurate facts are included in the composition.	Five to six accurate facts are included in the composition.	Only three or four accurate facts are included in the composition.	Two or fewer facts are included in the composition.
Knowledge Gained	Student can accurately answer all questions related to the composition.	Student can answer most questions related to the composition.	Student can answer less than 75 percent of the questions related to the song/ poem.	Student appears to have insufficient information to answer at least 50 percent of questions related to the composition.	Student is incapable of answering most questions about the composition.
Mechanical / Grammar	There are no grammatical or mechanical errors.	There are one or two grammatical or mechanical errors.	There are three or four grammatical or mechanical errors.	There are at least five grammatical or mechanical errors.	The finished work contains numerous grammatical and mechanical errors, and the errors distract from the finished product.
Required Elements	The student exceeds the requirements.	The student meets the given requirements.	The student meets all but one of the requirements.	The student meets all but two or three of the requirements.	Several required elements are missing.