Not so Fairtrade…
It is Fairtrade Fortnight and P5-7 learned first hand how world trade works and how it is definitely not always fair!
Each group were given a country: USA, Ireland, India, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania. The groups were instructed to make shapes of different values to make money for their country. The shapes had to be the exact measurements specified or they would not be accepted.
Unfortunately, as in reality, the different countries started off with different resources, e.g. USA began with scissors, a compass, rulers, 1 sheet of paper, £600 and 4 pencils whereas Kenya began with only 4 sheets of paper and 2 pencils.
The children quickly realised that they were going to have to trade with one another to be able to continue making money for their country but some were more reluctant to trade than others and the negotiations began…
Afterwards the children had a good discussion on what they had learned about Fairtrade and how all of the countries rely on one another in different ways but that world trade is certainly not equal. The children thought this was a fun and interactive way to learn and would like to do it again.
The children used important life skills such as adapting, using their initiative, integrity, communicating, collaborating, leading and critical thinking.
- UNCRC 13 – Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel
- UNCRC 29 – Children have the right to fully develop their personalities, talents and abilities
- UNCRC 31 – Children have the right to play and take part in creative activities
- SHANARRI – Active, Achieving, Responsible, Inclusive
- Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production
- Sustainable Development Goal 17 – Global Partnerships for sustainable development
