Idaho Social Studies 5.SS.5.3

Social Studies5th GradeGlobal Perspectives

The Standard

Identify the role of the United States in a global economy.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students identify goods the United States buys from other countries and goods or services it sells abroad. They explain how trade connects U.S. workers and shoppers with people in other countries.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given U.S. wheat shipped to Mexico and Mexican tomatoes shipped to the United States, students can name the export and the import. They can explain how a U.S. farmer benefits from the first shipment and a U.S. shopper benefits from the second.
Common Misconceptions: Students may assume everything sold in a U.S. store was made here. They may mix up imports and exports or think the United States only buys from other countries.
How to Assess It: On an exit ticket, list two shipments: U.S. wheat to Mexico and Mexican tomatoes to the United States. Ask students to label each import or export and explain how one shipment affects a U.S. worker or shopper.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a world map and cards showing U.S. wheat sent to Mexico and Brazilian coffee sent here; have them draw both routes.
Ask students to write two sentences: How does selling wheat abroad help a U.S. farmer, and how can imports help a shopper?
Play import or export: read shipping cards aloud and have students hold up an import or export card for each one.
Have students find a country-of-origin label on a shirt at home and explain why buying that shirt is part of global trade.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 5.SS.5.3, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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