Indiana Social Studies GE.4.1

Social StudiesGrades 9–12World Trade

The Standard

Synthesize evidence which suggests that most of the world’s countries are interdependent.

2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students use trade maps and data to find patterns in what countries buy and sell. They combine evidence from several regions to explain how countries rely on one another.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can use import, export, and trade partner data to support a claim about widespread interdependence. They can explain how a shipping delay in one country could affect buyers and sellers elsewhere.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think countries rely on one another only when they trade the same amount. They may use one product's supply chain as proof about most countries without checking wider trade data.
How to Assess It: Show a world map with country-to-country trade arrows. Ask: “Name two patterns across different regions that support a claim about interdependence. What can this map not tell you?”

Lesson moves

Give groups cards for a phone's mining, assembly, shipping, and sale countries; have them arrange the cards and trace the trade links.
Ask students: “Can two countries rely on each other in different ways?” Have them answer using two named trade flows from a map.
Give pairs 16 country cards listing imports, exports, and trade partners; have them match trading partners and count the regions linked.
Have students check the country-of-origin labels on five classroom items, plot the countries on a map, and explain each trade link.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to GE.4.1, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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