Monday, December 5, 2011

Trade Fair

We did a trade fair today in class.  We all brought handmade or store bought items to trade with our classmates.  Each person decided what to bring to trade or barter with each other.  This activity was to similate what the pioneers had to do when they came to America.  There was not a monetary system in place and the settlers wanted and needed goods that others had.  They had to trade or barter their goods for the goods of others. 
                                            My contribution to the trade fair..
                                                                                                                      Hand made bookmarks.
We each brought goods to sell, but the quantity of goods we brought was up to us.  Some students brought enough for each person in the class to trade with, others only brought a few goods.  Each student had to free will to trade with whoever they wanted goods from, or to refuse a trade based upon their wants and needs.  Each students walked away from the trade fair with different goods, but some walked away with a lot more than others did.  Some students chose to trade for an even 1 for 1 trade, while others felt their goods were worth more than others had to offer.  This is exactly what difficulties were presented in the time of the settlers.  This was a great activity for presenting to students how pioneers were able to get what they needed without the use of money.  This activity would be very engaging for students, and hopefully get them interested in learning as much as they could about this time period.

                                      

Items I traded for my bookmarks.

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