Invite a person who speaks French to visit the class. Before there was currency, people traded skills or items for materials they needed. The beaver fur was used to make hats that were very popular in earlier times. Most of the furs were traded by the Indians. Materials were transported on the St. Lawrence River.
Procedure Ask the children to raise their hands if they have ever gone shopping with their parents.
Ask the children how they pay for items they would like to purchase. Tell the students that earlier in history, when there was no currency, people traded skills or materials for items that they needed. The Man Who Made Fine Tops. Then ask the students to tell what each father would trade for a top. List the responses on the board.