Summer Wood

Title: Exchange City

Grade: 3rd

Length of activity: 50 minutes

Objectives: Students will demonstrate the process of bartering

by
exchanging with another child an item that is more valuable to

them.

Material: Items to be exchanged

Letter to parents

Activity:

1. Tell the students you are planning a day called Exchange City.

Explain
the Exchange City is
a day when the boys and girls bring in items that they would like

to
exchange with each other.

(EXPLAIN!! that the exchange is for real. They will not get back

the item
that they brought if
they choose to exchange it with another child.)

2. The students are to bring in an item that is worth between

one or two

dollars. Explain to the students that they do not have to exchange

their
item if they feel there is not another item that is worth as much

to them
as the one they brought.

3. Before you start the lesson ask the students to set out the

item that
they choose to bring.

4. Make sure that everyone has brought an item that is between

the dollar value. It would not be fair if someone brought an item worth five

dollars
and everyone else brought one dollar items.

5. Now that you have made sure everyone has the proper items -

set a date
in which Exchange City will take place. (Once again, explain that

the
exchange is for good)

6. Send a letter home to the parents explaining what activity

you have
planned. Encourage parents to come to visit on the day.

7. It is now EXCHANGE CITY DAY!!

8. Explain to the class exactly what a barter system is: Barter

is the
exchange of goods or services without money. (Introduction)

9. Give a couple of common examples of barter. Ex: On Halloween

kids get
many kinds of candy. Some they like and some they don’t. Normally

the
child will offer a sibling or a parent the piece of candy they

don’t like
for a piece of candy that their sibling or parent would like to

give up.
The piece of candy you don’t like could be your brother’s favorite

kind.

Ex: Have you ever been to Wal-Mart and wanted a quarter for those

machines
that sit outside the doors? Thisis another form of barter. You and you sibling could put a quarter

in
the machine and get something totally different than what is pictured

on
the advertisement. If you want a ring and your brother wants a

bouncy ball
and what comes out is just the opposite, this is a chance for

you to
exchange items. This is called bartering.

10. Now that you have explained what barter is, ask the class

to place
their items on their desks. Let the students walk around and get

a sense

of what other students have brought. Once they are seated, you

(the
teacher) begin the exchange by offering one student the item you

brought. This should get things rolling. Announce to the class that they only have 30 minutes to do the

exchange.
Announce when five minutes remain.

11. While they are participating in Exchange City, walk around

the room
and listen to the different comments made to each other.

12. When time is up discuss the lesson: (closure)

How many students traded their item for the item they wanted most?

How many didn’t trade at all? Why?

Was there anyone who traded more than once to get the item of

their
choice?

13. Have the class define barter in their journals, comment on

the
activity, and list three examples of barter they have been involved

in.

14. Observe activity and write down comments the student make
throughout
the exchange. (Assessment)

15. Take pictures throughout the activity and develop them for

display in
the room.

Adaptation/Extensions: Send a letter home to the parents saying

that if their child participates in 5 barters within two weeks, they will

receive
2 points extra credit. To receive the points, a note must be sent

to
school with your child and signed describing the exchange that

was made.

Reference:

Coulson, E. & McCorkle, S. (1982). Swap Day. Ballwin, MO:

Economics for

the Elementary Classroom.