Idaho Social Studies 9-12.EC.11

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Economics

The Standard

Apply economic concepts to explain the role of imports/exports both nationally and internationally.

Idaho Content Standards: K-12 Social Studies · Macroeconomics and International Trade

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain why countries import some goods and export others using opportunity cost. They describe how trade can change prices, jobs, and choices for buyers and sellers in both countries.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a production table, a student can identify which good each country should export and explain why. They can name buyers who benefit from imports and producers who face more competition.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think imports always hurt a country and exports always help. They may think a country imports a good only because it cannot make it, or that a trade deficit means it lost money.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Country A can make 10 shirts or 5 bikes per day; Country B can make 4 shirts or 4 bikes. Which good should each country export, and how did you decide?

Lesson moves

Give pairs cards showing A makes 12 shirts or 6 bikes and B makes 6 shirts or 6 bikes; then trade tokens and compare totals.
Ask students to write who might gain and who might lose if the United States adds a tariff to imported shoes.
Play Trade or Make: post two production tables and award a point for naming the lower-cost producer and likely exporter.
Check labels on three classroom items, mark each origin country on a map, and discuss how importing them affects buyers and local sellers.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 9-12.EC.11, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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