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TITLE: The World On A String
(Interdependence Simulation)
AUTHOR: Lisa Knight, Meadow Glade, Battle Grounds, WA
GRADE LEVEL: 5-6; History
OBJECTIVE(s): To demonstrate through concrete experience
the interconnectedness of all countries
MATERIALS: Index cards with directions, ball of string
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
Give each student a card with the country's name,
export, and trading partner. Have the group stand in a
circle at random (26 students max.). First country
(Afghanistan) throws string to trading partner who in turn
throws to his/her trading partner. Keep throwing string
till it has crisscrossed the circle and each person is
holding a part of the string.
The first person relates some problem that affects
hie/her export--i.e. "Drought hurts fruit crop. Exports
drastically reduced" then tugs the string. Each person who
feels the tug raises his/her hand, then tugs his/her string.
Tugs continue till the affect travels around the world.
VARIATION: Give students country cards and have the
children determine a relationship to another country--i.e.
Mexico borrows ten million dollars from the U.S., then throw
the string to that country.
INTERDEPENDENCE SIMULATION GAME
COUNTRY PRODUCT TO
1. Afghanistan dried fruit Libya
2. Libya oil Norway
3. Norway fish Sweden
4. Sweden wood West Germany
5. West Germany machinery France
6. France textiles Italy
7. Italy footwear U.S.A.
8. U.S.A. machinery Canada
9. Canada wheat Venezuela
10.Venezuela gold Brazil
11.Brazil coffee Djibouti
12.Djibouti hides Somalia
13.Somalia food Saudi Arabia
14.Saudi Arabia oil Switzerland
15.Switzerland watches Albania
16.Albania wheat Greece
17.Greece tobacco Portugal
18.Portugal cork Britain
19.Britain manufactured goods Netherlands
20.Netherlands chocolate Japan
21.Japan machinery Hong Kong
22.Hong Kong manufactured goods Algeria
23.Algeria wine Austria
24.Austria iron Kuwait
25.Kuwait oil Australia
26.Australia coal Argentina
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