Student Trade Show: Creating and Marketing a Product
Created bySue Emery
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Student Trade Show: Creating and Marketing a Product

Grade 6Social StudiesEconomicsGeography5 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
In this project, sixth-grade students engage in a trade show simulation by designing, producing, and marketing a product within various economic systems. Through activities like the Market Mystery Box and Trade Simulation Workshop, students explore concepts such as economic interdependence, trade dynamics, and global resource distribution. They learn to identify different economic systems, create a prototype product, and develop a marketing strategy that aligns with their chosen economic framework. This hands-on experience aims to deepen their understanding of social studies topics related to economics and geography.
Economic SystemsTradeResource DistributionInterdependencePrototype DesignMarketing StrategySocial Studies
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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we design, produce, and market a product within an economic system while understanding the roles of trade, economic interdependence, and resource distribution?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • What is an economic system and how does it influence the production of goods and services?
  • How does trade lead to economic interdependence among regions or countries?
  • In what ways are resources distributed across the world, and what impacts does this have on local and global economies?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to identify and describe different types of economic systems and their characteristics.
  • Students will develop a product and marketing plan demonstrating their understanding of trade and economic interdependence.
  • Students will analyze the effects of global resource distribution on economic systems and project viability.

Social Studies Standards

6.1.1
Primary
Students will understand different types of economic systems (e.g., traditional, command, market, mixed) and their impact on production and consumption.Reason: The project requires students to understand economic systems as they create and market a product.
6.1.2
Primary
Students will comprehend how trade leads to economic interdependence among nations and regions.Reason: Understanding trade and economic interdependence is essential for students as they explore market dynamics in their project.
6.3.1
Primary
Students will analyze how the distribution of resources affects economic systems and resource availability.Reason: Resource distribution is key to producing and marketing a product, thus relevant to their understanding in the project.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Market Mystery Box

Give students a mystery box filled with random materials and challenge them to brainstorm and develop a marketable product from the items inside. This activity sparks creativity and connects to resource distribution and trade as they figure out how to 'sell' their concept.
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Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Creator's Canvas: Design and Prototype

Leveraging their understanding of economic systems, trade, and resources, students design and create a prototype of a product to showcase at the trade show. This hands-on activity integrates creativity with practical economic concepts.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm product ideas in groups, considering available materials and resource distribution challenges.
2. Select an economic system framework to guide the product's production and market strategy.
3. Design and build a prototype, utilizing creative and practical problem-solving skills.
4. Prepare a presentation explaining how your product fits within the selected economic system and its trade potential.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA product prototype and presentation on its economic system and trade justification.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsIntegrates standards 6.1.1, 6.1.2, and 6.3.1 through practical application in product design and marketing.
Activity 2

Trade Simulation Workshop

Students engage in a trade simulation activity to build an understanding of how trade leads to economic interdependence. They explore trade dynamics firsthand by acting as different countries with specific resources.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Each group is assigned a country and given a list of resources they have and need.
2. Identify other 'countries' in the classroom to trade with, aiming to obtain the necessary resources.
3. Negotiate trades and document trade agreements, focusing on mutually beneficial exchanges.
4. Reflect on the experience by discussing how trade led to economic interdependence among countries.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA reflection essay on how trade creates economic interdependence, supported by examples from the simulation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCovers standard 6.1.2 by focusing on trade and economic interdependence.
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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Economic System and Trade Portfolio Assessment

Category 1

Understanding Economic Systems

Assessment of student knowledge on different economic systems and their characteristics.
Criterion 1

Identification and Description of Economic Systems

Evaluates the student's ability to identify and describe various economic systems, such as traditional, command, market, and mixed.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates sophisticated understanding by thoroughly identifying and describing all major types of economic systems with insightful examples.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates thorough understanding by accurately identifying and describing most types of economic systems and their key characteristics.

Developing
2 Points

Shows emerging understanding by identifying and describing at least one or two types of economic systems with some accuracy.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows initial understanding by struggling to accurately identify or describe economic systems.

Criterion 2

Application in Product Design

Assessing the effective application of understanding economic systems to guide a product’s production and market strategy.

Exemplary
4 Points

Applies understanding of economic systems innovatively and effectively in the product design and marketing strategy, demonstrating a clear connection between theory and practical application.

Proficient
3 Points

Applies understanding of economic systems appropriately to influence product design and marketing with a strong connection to the theory.

Developing
2 Points

Applies understanding of economic systems inconsistently in the product design, with only a partial connection to the theory.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to apply understanding of economic systems to product design and marketing, showing minimal connection to the theory.

Category 2

Trade and Economic Interdependence

Evaluation of the understanding and demonstration of trade principles and economic interdependence through group activities.
Criterion 1

Trade Simulation Participation

Assesses participation and collaboration in simulation activities focused on trade and resource distribution.

Exemplary
4 Points

Exhibits leadership and proactive participation in simulation, negotiating trades skillfully and facilitating collaborative solutions.

Proficient
3 Points

Participates actively in simulation, contributing effectively to negotiations and group decision-making processes.

Developing
2 Points

Shows basic participation in simulations, contributing to discussions with limited depth or confidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows minimal participation with little contribution to negotiations, often relying heavily on peers.

Criterion 2

Reflective Essay on Economic Interdependence

Evaluates the depth of reflection and analysis in understanding how trade leads to economic interdependence.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a comprehensive and insightful reflection, thoroughly analyzing the trade simulation and its implications for economic interdependence with strong evidence.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a coherent reflection analyzing trade simulation experiences with clear examples showing understanding of economic interdependence.

Developing
2 Points

Provides a simplistic reflection with limited analysis, partially acknowledging economic interdependence.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to reflect on trade simulation, showing minimal understanding or analysis of economic interdependence.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on how understanding different types of economic systems has influenced your approach to creating and marketing a product for the trade show.

Text
Required
Question 2

How effectively did your group collaborate on designing and building the product prototype?

Scale
Required
Question 3

In your opinion, which economic system most benefits from trade and economic interdependence and why?

Multiple choice
Required
Options
Traditional
Command
Market
Mixed
Question 4

Describe an instance during the trade simulation where you realized the importance of resource distribution.

Text
Required
Question 5

On a scale of 1 to 5, how has participating in these activities increased your understanding of global economic systems?

Scale
Required