Many students would have great difficulty imagining any of these stories but they are all sadly true. As educators, it's crucial that we give our students the critical thinking skills needed to realize that our purchasing choices and actions have repercussions on our global community. This lesson introduces the concept of global interdependence and creates an awareness of global conditions and development. For example, your pencil may be from Taiwan or your desk may be manufactured in Indonesia. Canada may import your pencil or desk from another country and sell the imported product in Canadian stores.
Imported products are goods that are made in foreign countries and then sold to Canada.
Use a classroom world map to begin to consider the locations in which classroom materials were made. Before you begin this activity, make a prediction where you think most products will come from. After you have investigated a product, write the name of the item on a removable sticky note and put it on the the location of the map from which the item originated. For example, look inside your pencil case and look for labels that show where it was made. As a class, chart the locations and number of items in order to make a graph.