May 21, 2008: Talking Trade

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Draw a picture of yourself flatwater racing or whitewater slaloming. Write a story about your race and how well you did.

2. Find newspaper ads for fitness equipment that would help a flatwater or whitewater racer. Paste the ads on a piece of paper. Write sentences explaining how each piece of equipment would help the racer.

3. Look through the newspaper with a friend. Use a colored marker to circle products (food, household and electronic goods, etc.) that are marked as coming from another country. Use a different-colored marker to circle products you think also came from another country but aren't labeled as such. Explain why you think these products are not from the United States.

4. Look through news stories and newspaper ads to find (a) a local product that is sold only locally or in a small region, (b) a local product that is probably popular in other countries, and (c) a local product that is advertised on the Internet.

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about a local industry. Use these questions to guide your research: What is the local business, and how long has it been located in your community? Where does the business get materials to create its product? Where does the business sell its product? Write a paragraph discussing your findings.

This week's standards:

• Students understand that when individuals, regions and nations specialize in what they can produce at the lowest cost and then trade with others, both production and consumption increase. (Economics: Trade)
• Students understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression and social interaction. (Physical Education)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)